Las Vegas hotel maid accused of stealing more than $1M in guests' jewelry
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A Las Vegas hotel maid is accused of stealing more than $1 million worth of belongings from a guest earlier this month, according to an arrest report.
Amanda Melendez was taken into custody on May 15 on suspicion of grand larceny, burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary.
In their arrest report, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police wrote that officers got a report of a burglary on May 7 at the Vdara, with about $1 million worth of jewelry missing from a guest's room.
Three men staying in the room had ordered housekeeping the previous day, May 6, before leaving, one of the men told police. When they returned to the room later in the night, they found their bags inside-out, with beds half-made and cleaning supplies left behind.
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They realized their jewelry was missing, including two Rolex watches, an Audemars Piguet watch, a Cartier watch, seven diamond Cuban link chains, a couple of bracelets and a gold ring, according to the report.
The men told police they were very cautious about hiding the jewelry and made sure nobody followed them to their room.
A corporate investigator for MGM Resorts identified Melendez as the housekeeper who was in the room that night, and a search of key logs found that another guest reported $300 in cash was stolen. Detectives later met with Melendez and asked her to provide a statement, but she denied knowing anything about the property being stolen.
The investigation found that Melendez had been in contact with a prison inmate on May 6, according to the report. The call was recorded, and she could be heard talking about cleaning a room that had several valuable pieces of jewelry, which matched the items taken from the Vdara. The inmate, whose name is redacted, directs her to take everything and then leave in a ride-share.
There were more phone calls after the alleged burglary in which Melendez and the inmate agree to keep all of the stolen items, police wrote.
Court records indicate Melendez has posted bond, and a status check hearing is scheduled for June 20.
