Crimes / Creatures, Las Vegas

the south and central section of the strip is perfectly safe for tourists day and night. the north strip gets a little seedy around circus circus and the stratosphere area. i would not advise walking to downtown from the stratoshere after dark. las vegas offers a number of nice casino hotels off the strip. some examples are the hard rock casino, terribles, palace station, and the rio. because of las vegas' large alcoholic, drug addicted, and homeless population i would not advise walking to these casinos after dark. a taxi fare is cheap insurance to avoid getting mugged. from harahs on the strip they offer a shuttle to and from the rio.

My dad was staying at a hotel (I cannot remember the name but it's irrelevant) and had his wallet stolen. Now, most people are thinking "pick pocket," right? NO! He left his wallet under the matress while going down to a business dinner in which he didn't want to take money around because of the pick-pocket warnings. The maids were suspected but the hotel did nothing about it because there was no proof of anything.

PLEASE make sure you get a hotel room with a safe and USE IT!! They are very easy to use if you read the directions. You create your own code so no one, NO ONE, can take your money! (At least, we hope and pray there isn't a trick code, right?)

As with anywhere, be aware of pickpockets in Vegas.

But on Fremont Street, you are much greater risk.

A. It is very busy
B. It is full of low life people
C. You spend time looking up at the roof so are at huge risk

Be sensible, let the casino empty your wallet, not the pickpockets

Be aware that pick-pockets operate in Vegas, as in most big tourist destinations. There is no need to be unduly worried if you are sensible. Keep your valuables out of sight as much as possible, keep handbags, purses etc. done up and keep them where you can see them.

Pick-pockets love a crowded place where they can get close to you without you noticing. Be especially vigilant when you are in a crowd watching something or anywhere where there are many people gathered.

A common ploy involves escalators and a team of pick-pockets. One will drop something as he approaches the bottom and in trying to pick up the item he will cause a blockage giving his partner behind the victim the chance to bump into them and lift their wallet etc. in the confusion.

Las Vegas is just as safe as most large cities as long as you are sensible and aware of the possible dangers.

Be sensible, don't worry and have a good time.

Anywhere you have the kind of money floating around and the amount of tourist as you do in Las Vegas, your going to have plenty of pick pockets, con artists, and "run-of -the-mill" degenerates that want to illegally seperate you from your personal wealth. Just exercise the normal precautions, and you should be fine. Avoid, or ignore anyone who comes up to you in the street.

For the most part Vegas is fairly safe, so have a good time, but don't let your guard down.

Watch out for the ubiquitous mechanical muggers - they are everywhere. Within a matter of seconds or minutes, your pockets are mercilessly picked clean, credit cards are maxed out, and you'll be cursing Las Vegas on the long drive or flight back home.

While traveling to a 4 star resort in Las Vegas I was robbed of five thousand dollors in jewelry, Best I could tell it happened in the hallway at check in. I was traveling with two elderly people and we must have looked like an easy mark. The hotel advised me that there were no cameras!!!! There was no security at the elevators either, the hotel convinced me to let them handle it. I was a fool and believed them. BIG MISTAKE, CALL THE POLICE IMEDIATELY!!!!!!! I found a crook only needs the oppurtunity and 15 seconds or less, and by not calling gives them ample time to get away.

We all see the bicycle riding cops up and down the strip every day and night in Vegas, but have you actually ever seen them do anything other than smile at hot chics? I have...

My friend and I were down on Fremont St. There was this one particularly foul smelling street person we happened to notice, made private comment and moved on.

Approximately 15 minutes later, the self same vagrant came running for his life out of a side street. As he made it onto Fremont, and infront of hundreds of travellers, the bike cop grabbed the bum by his shirt and simultaneously jumped off the bike and got the guy into arrest position (face down, hands behind back). The bum was kicking his feet and attempting to punch the officer all the while keeping his fist held tightly and yelling "ITS JUST A SAMPLE MAN, IT'S JUST A SAMPLE!!!"

Moral of tale: Watch your back downtown after dark, there are plenty of shady characters around. Keep your money close... You know something's up when the cop actually dismounts the bike...