How to Stay Safe in Las Vegas

Last update: May 27, 2023

Most crime rates in Vegas are much higher than the rest of the U.S., e.g.:

1. Rape:  Twice as common
2. Robbery:  56% higher
3. Assault:  25% higher
4. Burglary:  88% higher
5. Theft:  9% higher
6. Vehicle theft:  Twice as common (source)

Over a hundred visitors are murdered every year (2014 figures), including being shot and killed or run over while being robbed in parking garages.

So, take steps to stay safe.  Here are some ideas.

1. If you don't need a car, don't rent one (or drive your own).  Parking garages are one of the most dangerous places.
2. If you do use a car, don't leave anything valuable in it.  Cars are easily and frequently broken into, even in the parking garages of the nicest casinos.
3. If you have lots of credit cards, don't take all of them.  If your wallet gets stolen you don't want to have to cancel all your cards.  Take at least two cards so in case one gets declined you have a backup.  For that matter, before your trip, let your credit card companies know you're going to Vegas so they don't shut off your card for suspicious activity.
4. Don't carry large amounts of cash.  Plan to use credit cards for most purchases.  For gambling, wire your money to the casino cage ahead of time (or if you're already in Vegas, deposit your cash at the cage).  If you have a safe in your room, leave half of any money you didn't deposit at the cage.  (Hotel safes get robbed sometimes, so half in the safe and half on your person means you don't have all your eggs in one basket.)
5. Put your wallet in your front pocket, the hardest pocket to pick.
6. Carry a decoy wallet with $100 and an unimportant credit card.  If you get mugged, hand that one over.
7. Bring a second cell phone and SIM card, and leave it in your room (in the safe, if there is one).  If your phone gets stolen, you'll have a backup handy.  Make sure your phone is backed up to the cloud so you you can easy load your data onto your backup phone.
8. Don't walk the strip alone at night, or go to a parking garage alone.
9. Don't leave the strip or the lively casino area of downtown.  It starts getting really sketchy just a block or two from either.
10. Don't accept a drink from anyone, especially at a club.  It could be spiked.