Is Las Vegas Dangerous: Your Guide to Staying Safe in Sin City

From the glitz and glamour of The Strip to the excitement of gambling in the many casinos throughout the city, there are endless things to do in Las Vegas, which is why the city attracts visitors from all over the world.

However, like any tourist destination, there are just as many ways for both those visiting for the first time and those with more experience to be scammed, endangered, or even physically hurt while enjoying the Entertainment Capital of the World.

We’ve included some stats and tips and tricks to allow you to make informed decisions and make Las Vegas safe. While we can’t protect you from a streak of bad luck, The Advocates in Las Vegas, NV, can help if you have been injured in an accident. Contact us today for your free case evaluation.

Las Vegas Crime Rates

Despite its seedy reputation, Las Vegas is not especially dangerous compared to many other large cities in the United States. It’s not even the most dangerous major city in Nevada; that would be Reno.

Vegas’s 3567 violent crimes per 100,000 people place it on roughly the same level as Austin, TX, and Los Angeles. Property crime is 2,936 per 100,000 people, which also places Sin City in approximately the middle of the pack for crime rankings in the United States. And, as with basically everywhere in the US, homicides are constantly falling in Vegas.

As with any major city, or anywhere else, it’s crucial to stay aware to stay safe. Keeping your wits about you on Fremont Street or the Las Vegas Strip will ensure you have a much better time in Vegas.

Las Vegas Safety Tips

Pickpockets use the glitz and glamor of Vegas to steal valuables from visitors. Downtown Las Vegas is full of distractions, which thieves and scammers use to exploit visitors. It may seem like common sense to be told to pay attention to your surroundings, but with so many different things fighting for your attention in Las Vegas, it is easy to be distracted.

If you’re enjoying the Sin City nightlife, it’s crucial to be vigilant. Keep purses close and don’t lose sight of them; don’t hang things like purses or jackets on the back of chairs where you can’t keep an eye on them.

The LVMPD has some helpful tips on its website. Ensure you know where your drinks have been and where they came from. Stay with friends you trust, and don’t leave anyone behind. Don’t drive inebriated. Vegas has a robust taxi system and countless rideshare drivers for Uber and Lyft.

Even taking the necessary safety measures may still find you in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation. Las Vegas has a robust police presence, especially in tourist areas, and it’s often pretty easy to find a police officer. If you can’t find someone, call 9-1-1 in an emergency or 3-1-1 for non-emergency situations.

Staying Safe in Las Vegas Hotels

Even if you’re just making a quick trip from a neighboring state like California or Utah, you may be staying in one of Vegas’s many world-famous hotels or any number of less glamorous chain hotels within the metro area. Whether you’re staying at the MGM Grand, the New York-New York, or just a Motel 6, staying safe is important.

When you enter your room, make sure you close and lock the door behind you. Use the extra security locks that hotel rooms generally have for extra safety. Don’t prop your door open; it leaves you open to potential danger.

When you leave your room, make sure it is locked and secured, and leave your valuable either in the room safe or at the front desk, and keep an inventory of what you have left and where you have left it.

Check with hotel staff to ensure you are connecting to the proper wifi network, as a false wifi network is a massive security risk. Remember that hotel staff will not ask for personal information or credit card numbers over the phone during your stay, so be careful not to give out information to imposters.

Las Vegas Is Fairly Safe

Obviously, visiting Las Vegas carries some risk, just like visiting anywhere else. The city has gone to great lengths to shed the seedy reputation of the past and make places like The Strip safe. While some of that former grime remains in parts of the city, it’s not really any different than any other major city.

As long as you stay aware and take the precautions you should take when you travel anywhere you should be able to have a fun and safe stay within Sin City. Even the roads in Las Vegas, congested though they often are, are generally safer than the national average.

However, if you are injured and need someone to go to bat for you, you can reach out to The Advocates personal injury law firm. Our Las Vegas law firm is ready to help you if you’ve been in an accident. You deserve a team dedicated to you. You deserve an Advocate. Contact us today!