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Man Charged With Stealing Cash From Elderly Winner's Hand At Elgin Casino

CHICAGO (STMW) -- A northwest suburban man stole $5,000 in cash from a 79-year-old man at a casino in Elgin Sunday, police said.

The elderly man said he had just cashed the $5,000 check at Grand Victoria Casino, 250 S. Grove Ave., and was playing the slots when 34-year-old Sean Sheppard walked up to him and struck up a conversation, according to Elgin police.

The 79-year-old walked away with the cash in his hand, but a short time later Sheppard walked up to him again, tore the money away and ran, police said. The victim was only able to hold onto half a torn bill.

Officers identified Sheppard and tracked him down at his Elgin home in the 500 block of Shenandoah Trail, where they spotted the other half of the torn bill while knocking on the door. They found a portion of the rest of the money inside his home, police said.

Sheppard was arrested and charged with a felony count of robbery of a victim older than 60. A Kane County judge ordered him held on a $75,000 bond Monday.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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