A professional poker player was tackled, hog-tied and robbed at a Las Vegas rental property shortly after withdrawing tens of thousands of dollars in tournament prize money, according to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department report.
The victim, Jared Griener, was staying at an Airbnb near Vegas Drive and Buffalo Drive on July 12 when two unidentified men forced their way in. According to police documents, the intruders restrained Griener and demanded he reveal the location of his backpack, which contained approximately $45,000 in cash and $1,000 sunglasses.
During the robbery, the suspects placed dishes on Griener’s back and warned him that the items would shatter if he attempted to move, as reported by NBC affiliate KSNV.
Griener told police he waited until the house fell silent for several minutes before loosening his restraints enough to escape. Ring camera footage obtained by the outlet showed him knocking on a neighboring door for help, barefoot and still partially bound with duct tape. A second neighbor eventually called 911.
He later provided further details to the Las Vegas Review-Journal regarding how the break-in occurred.
According to Griener, he returned to the rental on July 12 after cashing out roughly $60,000 from his World Series of Poker account. The California native, who has built up more than $3.3 million in career tournament earnings, said two men were already waiting inside when he unlocked the front door and tackled him as soon as he stepped through.
He noted there was no sign of forced entry, leaving him convinced the men knew his schedule and came specifically for him. The intruders grabbed his phone and threatened his life while demanding his backpack.
“I begged them to take whatever they wanted and leave and to please let me live,” Griener later shared in a social media post describing the encounter.
When Griener told them the bag was in his car, they took his keys to retrieve the money, headphones and other belongings, but left the vehicle and his phone behind.
Before fleeing, the men used duct tape found in the house to bind his wrists behind his back and tie his ankles to his hands. Once the intruders left, Griener managed to break free and seek assistance outside.
“I was so afraid that they were still at the house, so I just sprinted outside and banged on the neighbor’s door who looked like they were home,” he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “They didn’t answer.”
Griener said he sustained minor soreness during the tackle but did not need hospital treatment, though paramedics had to help him cut away the remaining tape when they arrived.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed officers searched the home for fingerprints and that an active robbery investigation was underway. No arrests have been made.
An Airbnb spokesperson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the company fully refunded Griener’s stay and was cooperating with law enforcement.
The Independent has contacted Airbnb for comment.
