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The Case of the Disappearing Fannypack

Who nowadays can claim ignorance of the existence of that much-condemned fashion faux pas, the fannypack? These purse-like receptacles fasten around the waist, and leave the hands free to do whatever the wearer wishes. Unfortunately, functionality does not always equal fashion. That’s why we had to snicker (just a little bit, we promise!) at the tale of the purloined fannypack at Mount Airy Casino and Resort in Paradise Township, Pennsylvania. A bag containing the slot machine winnings of an elderly gambler were snatched by… another old man. It’s a tale of bad judgment and sheer audacity that is almost too strange to be true.

On Wednesday afternoon, around five p.m, Givlio H. Rossi, aged seventy-five, left his fannypack at the slot machine he had been playing. The bag contained to vouchers worth a combined total of one hundred eighty-three dollars that Rossi had won playing the slot game after cashing out. When Rossi returned to claim his bag, it had vanished.

When Rossi told security about his purloined fannypack, the casino’s officers revealed surveillance videos and saw Victor L. Camarone, aged eighty-two, commit the theft. Allegedly, Camerone lifted the bag, emptied it of the slot machine winnings, and disposed of the bag elsewhere in the casino. He cashed out the slot game vouchers, but didn’t leave fast enough. Camerone was apprehended by security, and made to give the money back to Rossi, who did not press charges. That was very nice and forgiving of Mr. Rossi, who may remember next time to keep a better watch on his fannypack.

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