'The Mr Bean of crooks': Casino dealer who tried to slip a $5,000 chip into his sock is fired after cameras caught every move of his bungled heist
- A casino dealer has been caught on camera trying to steal a $5,000 chip on shift
- The anonymous employee sneakily lifts a chip from his pinky to palm of his hand
- He reaches under table to hide it before showing cameras his hands are empty
- Casino's surveillance chief said he should have known cameras were watching
A casino dealer has been caught in the act of trying to sneak a chip worth thousands of dollars off the table and stow it in his sock.
The anonymous employee of Sydney's Star Casino was caught red-handed by the complex's extensive security cameras, the footage of which was released on Sunday.
The unscrupulous baccarat dealer subtly lifts a yellow chip - worth $5,000 - with his pinky as he tries to hide the botched theft.
A croupier has been caught on camera lifting a yellow chip worth $5000 off the table and stowing it in his sock
The footage, sent to The Daily Telegraph by The Star Casino, shows the dealer fidgeting with the tray of chips while he talks to patrons.
In a subtle move, he pinches a chip with his pinky and ring finger, exposing it briefly to the cameras before stowing it in his palm.
He then looks at the ground, before reaching underneath the table for a few seconds and resurfacing.
The dealer shows his open palm face-up to the camera - a move called 'showing clean hands', which is instilled on employees during training to prove they don't have any chips in their hands.
The dealer then shifts his now-empty hand across the table and towards the deck of cards on his left to continue the game as if the theft had not happened.
The Star Casino's chief of surveillance said the dealer should have known one of the complex's 3000 cameras were watching his every move
He was quickly caught by the casino's security team, who monitor the thousands of cameras inside the complex.
Security experts branded him the 'Mr Bean of crooks' for the botched theft, with The Star's surveillance chief Catherine Clark saying he should have known better.
'We already have 360 degree coverage of the property and without touching a camera we can follow someone wherever they go,' Ms Clark said.
A former casino dealer told Daily Mail Australia trainees were constantly reminded that cameras were watching their every move.
Suspicious behaviour like fidgeting or reaching underneath the table - both exhibited by the dealer in the footage - draws the attention of surveillance.
The dealer was quickly caught and fired by the casino. He was prosecuted and given a suspended sentence.
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