SANTA YSABEL, Calif. -- Local, state and federal authorities Wednesday were investigating the theft of at least $100,000 in cash from a secure area within the small Santa Ysabel Casino.
The theft from the rural North County casino off Highway 79 east of Ramona was reported Monday morning, said San Diego County sheriff's Sgt. Tom Evans.
"It was probably a well thought out situation," said Evans. "They couldn't have gotten in there without some planning and intellilgence work."
The theft from the rural North County casino off Highway 79 east of Ramona was reported Monday morning, Evans called it a "large theft of money from a secured area'' in the casino. An anonymous law enforcement source told the San Diego Union-Tribune that the thieves made off with an amount in the six figures.
The theft was discovered Monday when personnel arrived at work some time after 8 in the morning. Evans said investigators were focusing on a large amount of evidence left behind and looking at surveillance video.
"We're examining that but obviously that takes hours and hours to go through and look at each detail," said Evans.
The sheriff's department, FBI and California Department of Justice were working together on the case, he said.
The casino general manager issued a statement that read, in part, "I have complete confidence that these agencies will conduct a thorough investigation and do not want to hinder the investigation by speculating on the burglary."