Las Vegas housekeeper accused of stealing $100K+ from hotel rooms
Woman seen on video entering rooms while off duty, documents say
LAS VEGAS, NV – APRIL 15: General views of The Palazzo hotel at The Venetian Resort on April 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A housekeeper at a Las Vegas Strip resort allegedly stole large amounts of money and personal items from hotel rooms — officers later arrested her wearing a guest’s bracelet, police said in documents NewsNation affiliate KLAS obtained.
Maria Menendez Betancourt faces theft and burglary charges for several incidents at the Palazzo Tower at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas, police said.
In early June, a guest at the resort reported that her room was burglarized and more than $8,000 was missing, documents said. Investigators with the hotel identified Menendez Betancourt as a suspect in that burglary.
A review of the room’s lock revealed Menendez Betancourt entered the room while the guest was gone, police said. Police added on that day, Menendez Betancourt was not assigned to that floor and had no reason to be there. Later that month, hotel security called police saying they had detained Menendez Betancourt, believing she stole more than $110,000 from a guest, documents said.
In that case, Menendez Betancourt did not show up for work but was recorded on video the same day entering the property, documents said. Once inside, Menendez Betancourt activated a key fob allowing her access to guest rooms.
In less than an hour and a half, security said surveillance captured Menendez Betancourt “entering multiple rooms on multiple floors” without any cart of cleaning products, documents said. A hotel guest later reported $110,000 in cash and checks disappeared while he was away from his room, documents said.
“Menendez Betancourt discovered these items and concealed them in white bath towels [she] found in the room,” documents said. The video then shows Menendez Betancourt leaving the room and the property.
Police took Menendez Betancourt into custody on June 18. They noted she was wearing a gold bracelet reportedly stolen in an earlier incident.
Police rearrested Menendez Betancourt on new charges on July 12, documents said.
Menendez Betancourt had three active cases in Las Vegas Justice Court as of Wednesday. She posted bond and a judge ordered her to stay away from the Strip.
A representative from the Venetian did not return a request for comment.
