Greektown Casino Patron's Car Stolen

DETROIT - An occasional visit to Greektown Casino with her father or friends is a nice diversion for Elena Villa. She went there last Saturday night and parked her 1999 gold Chrysler Concord on the sixth level of the casino-hotel parking deck.

"I am so not wanting to go back to the casino; to Detroit. It's very upsetting; violated by having your car stolen," she said.

At first, Villa thought she might have been confused over the level where she parked her car, but then reality set in.

She said security told her, "That it has been going on, the thefts of cars, and that, indeed, they saw my car being driven out of the parking garage... They showed it on camera."

The stolen car is a big burden.

"I go to school full-time. I have three kids, single mom, so it's not been easy. They have to go to daycare, so I'm trying to find rides, and, of course, I'm not working because I'm in school," Villa said.

The casino provides its own security at its parking structures. Detroit Police don't normally patrol them, but will help out, if requested.

A spokesman for Greektown said in a prepared statement that car thefts are infrequent at the casino-hotel parking structure, but they do happen.

Roger Martin added, "We are saddened when one of our guests is victimized. We have increased our security patrols and surveillance efforts in the garage and are cooperating fully with police in hopes of helping to recover her vehicle."

Security may have a lead.

"A little indication, but not much," said Villa. "They need to put it out there so people are aware who come to the casinos."