In Dzerzhinsk, Russia, a man with a criminal record has been arrested for stealing 5 million rubles (approximately $60,500) from a 77-year-old pensioner to fund his online casino gambling habit. The incident was reported by the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
The 32-year-old local resident had been living in the victim's apartment, where he discovered her hidden cash. Over the course of two weeks, he gradually replaced the real banknotes with novelty bills, effectively stealing her savings.
According to police reports, the stolen money was transferred to the gaming accounts of unnamed online casinos. During interrogation, the suspect admitted to having a gambling addiction and expressed hopes of winning back his losses.
A criminal case has been initiated under part 4 of Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (theft). The accused is currently in custody and faces up to 10 years in prison.