‘Number one, they were previously expelled from the premises and tried to return. ‘Most (trespassers) are cited for one of two reasons,’ he said. Statistics from the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System bear this out. Witmer, who has an office on the casino grounds and oversees state police operations at six of the commonwealth’s casinos, stated that crime rates at Valley Forge are low, with most arrests stemming from minor thefts, cheating and disorderly conduct. Witmer, the Eastern Section commander for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Gaming Enforcement, agrees with Hellebush’s assessment. ‘There have been no kids left in cars,’ he said, alluding to some of the highly publicized cases where gamblers have neglected their children and returned to the gaming floor. John Hellebush said that in terms of local law enforcement, ‘the overall impact has been minimal.’ UPPER MERION – Crime is always a concern when a casino comes to town, but in the case of the Valley Forge Casino Resort, which opened in Upper Merion in March 2012, a concerted effort by the Pennsylvania State Police, casino security and local authorities has largely stifled criminal activity and mitigated the effects of casino-related crime on the surrounding community.
