Over four thousand dollars worth of softball gear and equipment vanished from a locked room at Circus Circus Reno in May. Mike Wassemiller returned from the fields to find his door forced open. Two guys walked out with their large softball bag in broad daylight. Security cameras recorded it all. The hotel refused to pay or replace anything.
Mike lost money, but the real loss came from the keepsakes inside that bag. His close friend Greg Pellegrini passed away years ago, and Greg’s personal bat was in there. Also inside was a unique Miken tribute bat from the 2015 Tournament of Champions. Those items cannot be replaced.
I play tournament softball every summer. I have left thousands of dollars’ worth of bats, gloves, and cleats in hotel rooms more times than I can count. You lock the door and think it is safe. After reading Mike’s story, I now double-check everything. I even started bringing my most important bats into the bathroom with me at night. It sounds crazy until it happens to someone you know.
Mike posted a strong warning on Facebook for the entire softball community. He wrote not to stay at Circus Circus Reno. He pointed out that there are no cameras in the hallways on some floors. He said the hotel showed no interest in making things right, even with clear pictures of the two thieves carrying his bag down the hall.
People quickly responded. One person suggested that the front desk must have tipped them off because the thieves knew exactly which room Mike was in and when he would be away. Another player shared that her fiancé had her purse snatched right off her lap at the slot machines, and the casino never even looked at the footage. Same hotel, same attitude.
Years of softball teams filling rooms at Circus Circus every tournament weekend apparently mean nothing to them. Mike asked everyone to share his story, and thousands did.
In short, if you travel for softball tournaments, think twice before booking Circus Circus Reno. Lock up your belongings, take pictures of serial numbers, and keep sentimental items with you. I hate that we have to say this, but one stolen bag full of memories is one too many. You may also be interested in: Mom Breaks Down After Paying Thousands for Her 16-Year-Old Football Star Son’s Gear, Now He’s Locked Up in Fulton County Juvenile Detention and Says She “Did Nothing” for Him
