WARNING TO VEGAS VISITORS - SERIOUS TOPIC

[tikay]

Don't be asking names, 'cos I dont know & would not tell if I did. And don't be speculating on the Forum - PLEASE.

5 Brits here in Vegas for the WSOP went out last night. Found "a lady", who took them to a house of ill-repute, shall we say. She gets on the phone & pointedly says "Hi Honey, we are busy here, lots of guys in".

10 minutes later, 3 guys arrive. Guns are placed to heads. Said 5 Brits are made to strip, are bound & gagged, gun at head all the while. All valuables & possession stolen.

I gather the problem here was that the location was "residential", & "off Strip".

One false move last night would have resulted in death. The guns were Magnums. Please be careful lads. We are here to have fun. Bringing one or more of our number home in a body bag is a BAD THING.

And remember, if anyone tries to speculate names, I'll delete the post. The guys wanted this post to go up to serve as a warning to others.

[Bongo]

And the other tip would be if this happens to you just do as they say, it's not worth dying for.

My old boss was South African (he's since moved back there) and told me a tale of a guy he knew who was young and successful - he drove a nice Porsche. One day he got held up and didn't comply with the hijackers as they would like - so they shot him. He survived and was paralyzed from the neck down. As such my boss told me that he'd cheerfully hand over anything on him, in his exact words "that's what insurance is for".

I hope everyone is recovering well from their ordeal.

[tikay]

Spot on Bongo, spot on. The guys are just fine, if a lttle shaken. They think they have won the WSOP this morning, they are that relieved to have escaped with their lives.

Bongo's advice is 100% right, in my opinion. Those bad guys would maybe get 20 years for Homicide, & 15 for Armed Robbery. It's all the same to them.

Don't be brave boys, be sensible.

[ifm]

Bloody hell!!
I read this the other day:-

Las Vegas isn't really a city made for pedestrians, so I wouldn't walk anywhere other than the tourist areas. Along the strip and within the Fremont Street Experience there's little to no danger at all, but once you leave the enclosed area of Fremont or start walking down the side streets of the strip, you end up in some of the worst parts of town. You can be walking in a very nice area and two minutes later find yourself in the worst ghetto imaginable because the neighborhoods jump from good to bad with very little in between. I don't know if you're into the "alternative" lifestyles (i.e. gay bars/clubs, swingers' clubs, strip clubs), but most of these are in sketchy areas too. Commercial center has quite a crowd hanging out outside, but people tend to get shot over by Sinaloense, so I'd avoid loitering in that area, and I wouldn't walk down the strip club streets even though very little goes on on them. Other than that just use common sense and don't fall for the common scams like random people trying to sell you things or guessing what cup the ball is under. And always keep an eye on your drinks.

[tikay]

Phew, I'm relieved & gratified that you lads are coming in with such good advice.

It seems last nights problem was bang in line with the quote from ifm - do NOT go off the main strip area.

The advice seems to be that The Strip is safe. Other areas should be treated as off-limits.

[The Chuckle]

It's a good point. I'd even go as far as to ask a taxi driver to take certain routes if you are going from one place to another.

My wife and I were leaving the Stratosphere after a meal at The Top of The World and within 60 seconds of leaving the taxi rank we were travelling down an extremely unpleasant neighbourhood on the way to the south end of the strip (some back roads to the west of it but not as far west as the freeway/interstate). My wife was shaking and I could feel a turtle's head approaching as the gangs on the corners looked into the cab as we slowed down for every speed bump.

Some areas downtown (north of Freemont St) give a similar impression but it's a little quicker and easier for the taxi to reach the freeway from there. Give me New York any day - though the poker is a little riskier there! 

We now always ask the driver to take the Strip and/or Paradise if the freeway is not an option.

Lesson learnt, I'm glad the guys are ok and perhaps when they've 'recovered' the story of how they got back without their clothes may make an interesting and amusing post (anon. of course)!

[tikay]

Odd you should tell the taxi story chuckle.

I got a cab to the airport yesterday to meet Jen off the plane, and the driver said "do you want to take the freeway, or through the streets?". It struck me as an odd question at the time, I just said "freeway please" & thought no more about it. Now I'm wondering......

[redsimon]

Most people think the cab drivers are ripping them off by going on the freeway, though it takesx longer than using the roads near the strip its definitely safer ( I managed to get off a bus on the wrong stop after visiting the Gamblers Book store last year and even though it was mid afternoon I was definitely the only white face walking in the neighbourhood and I was very glad to get back on the Strip!).

[The Wall]

WOW! Im not travelling to Vegas for the WSOP but I have already booked a trip for the end of September....... I guess I will have to be extra carefull! Thanks for the advice guys 

[The_nun]

Sorry to hear about this harrowing ordeal that these guys went through..and i really hope they are ok and dont let it spoil there time out there. ..But those of you that have not yet been to Vegas ,...don't let it get to you too much. I go there there quite a lot and so far ..touch wood ... have never yet had a problem with my saftey ... it is the only place I would be happy to travel to alone to holiday... but like anywhere it has it bad places. Usually Tikay the reason they ask of the Freeway thing is because of so called " ripping off " the tourists..it can be a lot cheaper if you ask for the quickest way to the airport.

[austintx37]

Whether that story is true or not, the "bottom" line about Vegas hookers is that they are overpriced. And if you still want to pay the premium, then grab one from your hotel bar (Cleopatras Barge at Caesars for example) and bring her back to your room.  There is security at the elevators who will keep unexpected guests from showing up. 

IMHO, you're better off saving the $$ and hitting a strip club in someplace else like Dallas or Phoenix.  Vegas gals are jaded.

[austintx37]

BTW, as a frequent traveller to Vegas, I can assure you that the freeway is just a quicker way to get to the heart of the Strip (i.e. Flamingo and Las Vegas Blvd.)  But many new arrivals want to ride down the Strip which takes longer for impatient cabbies. 

And it's not a good idea to wander around anywhere but the Strip.  Chances are you won't ever be hurt under the neon lights, but you could easily get clunked adjacent to any of the construction sites or side streets! 

My best advice for safety is to check into the Bellagio and remain in the pool area. 

[TightEnd]

Shame about the 2005 bracelet winner who invited a lady of the night back to his room, only to find later that said lady had departed with his bracelet...

coming soon to a Vegas pawn shop near you .....

[pleno1]

pics or it didnt happen!!!

[MC]

pics or it didnt happen!!!

damn you pleno