Palmwoods Hotel patron has wallet stolen after ‘significant’ win on the pokies

A man’s big win on the poker machines was short lived after another patron allegedly stole his wallet at a popular Sunshine Coast hotel.

Sunshine Coast police are investigating after a man’s wallet was allegedly stolen with a “significant” amount of cash inside.

Palmwoods police officer-in-charge Kevin Crowley said the incident unfolded at the Palmwoods Hotel about 1pm on Saturday, August 22.

He said a patron at the hotel was playing the pokies with his wallet in his lap when he stood up and it dropped onto the floor.

“He’s not seen it obviously and he’s walked off,” Sergeant Crowley said.

“A short time later the offender has walked in and seen it, picked it up and left the hotel.”

Sergeant Crowley wouldn’t disclose how much cash was inside the man’s wallet but said it was a “significant” amount.

“He had a significant win on the pokies,” he said.

Staff at the hotel helped police search through CCTV footage but were unable to identify the alleged offender.

“The staff who were at the hotel didn’t know who it was, they were going to conduct inquiries with other more long-serving staff in the hope that someone would recognise him,” he said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.