Poker machine venue owners have enough to worry about already, as there have been plenty of armed robberies at clubs and pubs recently. Now, they are facing a new theft threat, as an imposter posing as a pokie technician could be stealing from pokie venues across New Zealand. A report in Stuff warns bar, pub and club staff of a woman who has been masquerading as a technician for Aristocrat.
After being given the keys to the machine to perform maintenance on them, she inspects the game. "This afternoon we were alerted to a woman in the Christchurch area who has been entering gaming venues posing as an Aristocrat technician,” reads a report from The Air Rescue and Community Services Trust, which has been charged with the task of warning club owners.
"She told staff at the venues involved that she required keys to perform maintenance checks on the machines. When asked for ID, she told the staff member that she had been dropped off at the venue and didn't have any means of identification”. The first report of her visits came at the beginning of the month after the imposter visited a bar in Spreydon.
She inspected several games but was accompanied by a staff member at all times, so she did not have the opportunity to steal any money. The next time she visits a venue, she will be issued with a trespass notice. Police also aim to identify the woman, in order to ban her from entering any more gambling venues across the country. Simon Scott, Services Manager for Aristocrat, is disappointed with this person’s actions.
By posing as one of his staff, she is giving the company a bad name. He notes that pokie venue staff should ensure that the technician presents proper identification, and refuse to provide them with keys unless they do so
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