Gene, I think you are wrong stating that he stole a chip. According to what you are saying if all chips belong to the casino then anyone who walks off with any cash value chip is also stealing. Collectors line up at the cashier cage to buy commemorative chips and the casinos know they are removing them from the casino. Are they also stealing? Some casinos issue and sell free match play chips of different values that you can use to play at the table games. If you walk off with these chips are you stealing? And last but not least if you knowingly buy a NCV or roulette chip are you guilty of buying stolen property?

And most important of all I did not take the missing $5000 chips.