Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest of Woman Linked To Hotel Theft

A traffic stop in Las Vegas has led to the arrest of a woman linked to a $200,000 hotel theft, raising questions about security and crime in the city’s bustling tourist areas.

At a Glance

Police arrested Cassandra Tovar, 31, during a traffic stop for an alleged $200,000 theft from tourists’ hotel room.
Tovar appeared intoxicated and had no license plate, leading officers to discover her outstanding warrants.
The alleged theft involved spiked drinks, leading the victims to pass out and wake up missing valuable items.
Surveillance footage and investigation led police to Tovar and other suspects.

Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police pulled over Cassandra Tovar, 31, on the Las Vegas Strip for driving without a license plate. Officers noticed Tovar appeared intoxicated. A check revealed she was wanted for multiple charges linked to thefts at the MGM Signature Towers.

Details of the $200,000 Hotel Theft

The alleged incident occurred on April 23, 2023. The victims met three women at a bar who later joined them in their hotel room. One woman propositioned the men for intimate relations and asked for $1,000 each. After the men declined, they were encouraged to drink a shot, which led them to pass out. They awoke to find their personal belongings, including high-end watches and diamond bracelets, missing.

Metro police arrested a woman wanted for allegedly stealing $200,000 in jewelry and other items from two tourists after she reportedly drove a car impaired and without a license plate on the Las Vegas Strip, the @8NewsNow Investigators have learned. https://t.co/KWLkQCWYIc

— David Charns (@davidcharns) September 12, 2024

Investigation, Arrest, and Legal Proceedings

Toxicology tests confirmed the presence of controlled substances in the victims’ systems. Surveillance footage and a registered car led police to one of the suspects. During a search of one suspect’s home, police discovered stolen items. That suspect was arrested, but while Tovar was identified in connection to the crime, she was reportedly unreachable until the recent traffic stop.

A judge issued a warrant for Tovar’s arrest. After her capture, her bail was set at $20,000. She remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center, with a preliminary hearing set for November.

Crime in Las Vegas

Earlier this year, Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department spoke about the state of crime in the area. Notably, violent crime in the city was lower in 2023 compared to the previous year, with murders reportedly down by about 12 percent. Meanwhile, robberies were down by nearly 20 percent, larceny was down by 3 percent, and burglary was down by nearly 8 percent. Auto thefts represented a troubling outlier, jumping by over 36 percent in 2023.

The 2023 theft incident and Tovar’s arrest highlight ongoing security concerns in Las Vegas, especially in tourist-heavy areas. Visitors are urged to remain vigilant and mindful of their surroundings to prevent falling victim to similar crimes.