Last updated 06/06/22
If you’re visiting Las Vegas and walk around the Strip at night chances are slim you will get mugged or pickpocketed. The greatest risk to your safety in Las Vegas, is well…you.
Las Vegas is, overall, a safe place for tourists to visit. The Strip, and Downtown, are well lit and busy with foot traffic at most times. In addition to the police presence, every casino has security officers and surveillance cameras.
Note: I am by no means making any moral judgments here. You’re an adult and can make your own decisions about what you do with your life. I’m just trying to help you stay safe, even when making questionable decisions.
How Safe is Las Vegas?
Las Vegas is not one of the safest cities in the world. If you look at the crime statistics for the city it is grouped into different areas. The statistics for the Strip and Downtown show a much different picture from the rest of the city. Don’t get me wrong, crime does happen in tourist areas, but it is not generally violent or life-threatening. Most of the crime along Las Vegas Boulevard is petty theft, sales of illegal substances, and prostitution. You can protect yourself from a lot of crimes by being aware of the dangers and taking some simple steps to prevent them. What are the dangers? Let’s take a look.
Will I Get Pickpocketed In Las Vegas?
No, no you’re not. Pickpockets exist, I’m not saying they don’t. A lot of the time, when someone thinks they must have been pickpocketed it turns out they left their property somewhere and it was picked up by an opportunistic lowlife. Not some suave thief who mastered the skills needed to separate you from your possessions. No, just some guy walking around looking for stuff, any stuff, left unattended. The two most stolen items are slot tickets (TITO) and cellphones.
Where’s My TITO?
What is a TITO? It’s those tickets you get when you cash out on a slot machine. It stands for Ticket In Ticket Out. When you cash out you get a ticket that can be put in another slot machine and played. Or, you can take it to a kiosk, or a casino cage, and exchange it for money. If you can’t find your TITO you most likely either forgot to cash it out of the slot machine or dropped it. Or, you cashed out but forgot to actually take the TITO out of the machine.
Also, when you cash out at a kiosk, make sure you take your cash. If you grab the coins and leave cash you might as well have left the money in the slot machine and saved yourself the trouble of cashing out.
There is a certain subset of casino denizens that just walk around casinos looking for money left on slot machines. These characters have several different names depending on what part of the country you’re from. Credit claimers, fleas, and buffalo hunters are just a few.
Where’s My Cellphone?
Missing cell phones usually fall into one of three categories: Left it in the room. Left it on a slot machine. Fell out of a pants pocket while sitting on the toilet. And once it’s out of your possession someone is going to walk by and pick it up. Then they’ll be out the front door before you realize it’s gone.
Everything Else, You Dropped It Or Left It Behind
When you reach in your pocket to check your phone you’re going to pull out some cash, or chips, and drop them. You are going to take money out of your wallet to play a slot machine and leave it on the slot machine, or on the chair between your legs, or drop it on the floor when it doesn’t quite get into your pocket. You are going to set down your purse, or bag of items you just bought, and leave it behind when you move to a new slot machine.
The Closest Thing to Getting Pickpocketed
The closest thing to pickpocketing you might encounter is someone grabbing your stuff and running. Not sneaky or clever, but effective. If you leave a pile of cash in front of you, on a slot machine, or at a table, how long would it take someone to grab it and run out the door? I’m guessing they would have a big head start by the time you got up and started after them. This goes for anything you leave laying in front of you, your cellphone, wallet, cash.
If possible the thief will take it without you knowing to give themselves a head start. If you have something laying on the ground next to you they will try to get it without you knowing it. Slide it back to them with their foot. Reach over and grab something when you are not looking. I heard a story of a women who’s purse was wedged in between two slot machines. A thief reached through from the other side and slid the purse away without her noticing.
What Can I Do to Protect My Stuff?
First, don’t carry everything with you. You only need some cash, your ID, and one credit/debit card. Everything else you can lock in your room safe. I suggest you keep your money, identification, and credit cards in a money belt (like this one from Amazon) or a travel neck wallet (like this one from Amazon). You can keep your valuables out of your pockets so you don’t accidentally pull them out when rummaging in you pockets. This also keeps them in a secured place, attached to you so you can’t leave them behind, and out of sight.
If you do have a bigger bag or item you need to carry around put it in your lap. It’s inconvenient, but you won’t forget it. Put purses in your lap with the strap around your body. Having some type of find my phone app isn’t a bad idea, but most thieves are out the door and gone moments after they get their hands on your stuff. Don’t put anything down you don’t mind never seeing again.
What Is Door Pushing?
When you are in your hotel room you sometimes need to prop the door open. Maybe for someone that is on their way to the room. Or, maybe you had to run to the ice machine. You’ll be right back, or you’re just in the bathroom. No big deal. Until it is a big deal. There is another whole set of thieves who specialize in roaming hotel corridors looking for open doors. The are called, wait for it, door pushers. Because they, you know, push doors open.
The creativity of their name aside, a door pusher can be in your room and clean you out in minutes. Sometimes they have luggage they pull around so they can claim they are just looking for their room, and to put all of your stuff in. They push the door open and steal your stuff, or make an excuse for why they are in your room.
How Do I Protect My Room?
Keep your door closed.
All kidding aside, keep your door shut at all times. Something else you should do is don’t keep your room keycard in the little envelope they give you at the hotel front desk. That envelope has your room number on it. If you just drop a room key it would be really difficult for someone to find your room. If you drop that little envelope whoever picks it up has your room key and knows exactly where your room is.
Frauds and Scams
As with all things in life, if it’s too good to be true it usually is. Some of the bolder thieves aren’t satisfied with waiting for you to forget your stuff. They are going to try and talk you out of your money. There is one individual who has been scamming Vegas goers for 30 years at least. He buys souvenir chips from gift shops. He then approaches people on the street and tells them a story about why he can’t cash out this $100 chip. But, he could sell it to you for $50 and you could cash it out and make $50. Win, win. The souvenir chips cost him about $1.
Make sure anyone you deal with is an actual representative of the casino you are at. One scam artist would dress up in a suit and pretend to be a supervisor in the slot department. He would graciously offer to go get you change if you needed it. You give him $100 to get some change and you never see him again. When you find a legitimate casino employee they won’t know who you are talking about.
No one can beat the casino. Anyone who tells you differently is bragging or trying to scam you. If someone had a system to win, would they tell you about it? Or, just use it themselves. If someone offers to show you how to play for a percentage of the winnings they don’t sound greedy, right? They don’t get anything unless you win. But, they also don’t lose anything if you lose. So if you lose you are out the money and if you randomly win using their advice they get some of your money.
How Do I Know Who is Telling the Truth?
Don’t believe anyone who has a sure thing to win you money. Or, anyone who wants to trade you something valuable for some of your money. Any transaction that isn’t fairly priced is probably a scam. Make sure anyone you deal with is who they say they are. The guy in ripped blue jeans and a t-shirt might not be a host that can get you into the best club. Be wary of anyone trying to separate you from your money.
Where Do I Find Hookers in Las Vegas?
Everywhere. Just sit alone at any bar after dark and you will most likely be approached by a female wanting to chat. Not everyone dressed like a hooker is a hooker, many women going to a club are dressed scantily. Outside of a club, anyone younger than you that seems interested in you is probably a hooker. Like 99% probably.
The problem with hookers is not the illegality of the profession. The problem with hookers in Las Vegas is, given the chance, they will rob you. In Las Vegas, this is called a “trick roll.” You go to your room and step into the bathroom to freshen up before your illicit tryst, and when you come out you find your lady friend has departed. With your wallet, watch, laptop, and phone.
The other problem with hookers is once you’ve been robbed you will have a hard time reporting it. Not that the police won’t respond or try to help. No, the hard part comes when you have to admit you hired a prostitute. And, if your new friend is caught you will have to return to Las Vegas for a court appearance. Most people don’t want the time and hassle involved with reporting being “trick rolled” once they stop and think about it.
Is Prostitution Legal In Las Vegas?
No, it’s not. Prostitution is legal in some counties in Nevada, but not in Clark County where Las Vegas is located. A 45 minute drive from Las Vegas will take you to legal brothels in Pahrump Nevada. Legal brothels are safe and highly regulated by the state. More expensive than the lady of the night you met at the bar, but tested for diseases and not about to rob you.
Does Las Vegas Have a Red Light District?
There’s not a red-light district in Las Vegas. A red-light district is part of a city where prostitution and sex-centered businesses are located. Prostitution is not legal in Las Vegas so there is no red light district. The Strip does have some laws that don’t apply to the rest of the city. Carrying open containers of alcohol and drinking them is legal on the Strip, but most laws still apply on the Strip.
What Can I Do to Protect Myself?
First, you could not hire an illegal prostitute. The legal prostitution industry is much safer in so many ways. Barring that, it is always a good idea to lock your valuables in the hotel room safe. Many people take advantage of you if you are impaired, so moderation and keeping a clear head can go a long way towards not giving anyone a chance to steal from you.
Impairment
The last warning of the day is about becoming impaired. This is one of the biggest reasons people do stupid things, but it is Las Vegas. This warning is not about alcohol. I assume you have tried alcohol before and have an idea of your own limits. This warning is about edibles. Not being legal everywhere many people are not as experienced with edibles. Edibles are foods with cannabis in them. Well not really cannabis, but the chemical in cannabis that make you feel good. A lot of the time it’s brownies or gummy candy.
The problem with edibles is you don’t know how strong they are and how long they take to affect you. Many people take one, don’t feel anything, and take another. Later, when it does hit them, they’ve taken way too much. It’s like you don’t feel the first four beers, but on the fifth beer, they all hit you at once. When it all hits you, you freak out. Every day somewhere on the Strip, someone is transported to the hospital for taking too many edibles. Be careful. If you haven’t taken edibles before get the advice of someone who has, maybe the licensed dispensary where you got them from.
Stay Safe
Is Las Vegas a safe place to visit? It is, but you might mess it up for yourself if you don’t try to be as safe as possible. I understand you are here to have fun and I encourage that. But it’s not any fun waking up the next day and trying to cancel credit cards with a hangover. Or calling your mom/dad/wife to send you some money. Stay safe, and stay weird, Las Vegas.