Assaulted on the strip

We were in Vegas for my nephews wedding in April. As is typical since going to Vegas starting in 1992, I get up really early as my normal east coast wake up is 5 AM. That 3 hours time difference is tough. I like to walk the strip and get a couple of miles in at sun up and sometimes earlier. We were staying at MGM and at dawn(near 5 am) I headed across the pedestrian bridge toward NYNY. There were two guys sleeping on the bridge with signs purporting to be vets(maybe they really are, but being a vet myself I am cynical of this and think it is way to possibly get more donations). I walked down the steps heading in the direction of the Monte Carlo. I see one of the painted gold statue guys sleeping against the small wall in front of the casino. I get near where the side street is walled off for construction near CVS. I can hear someone coming up behind running, which is fairly normal as there are many joggers in the morning, but this person is not really running, they're skipping. I hear them right behind me, as I turn to see what is going on, bam, someone punches or kicks my right hand. A wild looking black lady, probably near her mid-twenties, starts screaming, "don't ever touch my bag! was that the hand you touched my bag with MF'er, SOB, don't ever touch my effin bag!". She was still skipping around, side to side, I kept turning and facing her, I said in a calm voice, "I didn't touch your bag." As quick as she came after me, she now ran back the other way toward NYNY. I continued on with my walk, thinking if I had even seen her or gone near her. I had no recollection of seeing her anywhere. I can only assume she was sleeping and dreaming that someone touched the bag or some other homeless person actually got in her stuff. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time as I was likely the 1st person she saw and attacked. I'm just glad she didn't have a knife or steel bar, things could've been much worse. I'm now thinking $25 to walk on a treadmill in the casino health club might be a good investment. At 55 I need to start being a little smarter about this stuff. I'm also thinking that many "harmless" homeless people all over the Vegas strip are not so harmless as many likely are mentally ill and belong somewhere else. This has given me a new perspective on Vegas and along with getting my butt kicked at the strip casinos, maybe it is time for alternate vacation plans.

Don't let one mentally ill (or drunk) person sour you on Vegas. You have to be on guard, but that could have happened just about anywhere.

I run the strip regularly on my visits and have not have an issue.....I usually wait until the sun is rising and I get to do some good people watching, lots of stairs, and see a few "walks of shame".

Sounds beyond what I would ignore. I would have called 911. Sorry, I'm sure she is mentally, ill, or just really high on drugs, but her actions impact pedestrian safety. JMHO.

I agree that Veterans have resources and don't need to be on the street begging. Problem is, so much depression among that population. Depression makes one impatient, or totally unable, to deal with going to the office/shelter/hospital whatever, filling out forms, sitting through intake screening, then they can't or won't follow up for various reasons.

Anyone can buy a hat or clothing with military insignia at a flea market or Army surplus store, so wearing something that indicates military is...maybe not. So sad, but factual.

I had my iphone with me and thought for second about calling 911. But I really didn't want to waste any more time on the situation. I usually see a police presence on the strip in the morning. Sometimes cops on bikes and usually patrol cars. But I didn't see any cops that morning. I travel quite a bit for business and I've been to LA, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Philly, Phoenix, etc. I guess I've been lucky that I hadn't been accosted until then. But I've always felt safe in Vegas. Early morning in the low 60's in April in Vegas, you can't get much better walking weather than that! I'll probably get back out there walking, but the way the gambling went on the strip, that may deter me more from returning anytime soon.

This would never happen downtown. (ode to BuickRiviera)

At 5:00 in the AM, ya just never know what remnants of strung-out low-lifes are still cruising for trouble.

I didn't know the MGM charged $25 to access their health club.
I'm guessing that is for your total stay. ???
Still might be worth it, as walking you stand more of a chance of a problem than if you were jogging.

Rick

don't let it ruin your love for vegas. could have happened anywhere. now the deliberate things that casinos do to alienate their customers -- that's a different story.

Don't your daily resort fees include use of the health spa?

Bet she voted for Obama.

At worst you got a little scare. At best it taught you and us all to keep our guard up. Vegas is a fun place but still has lots of crazies (that voted for Obama).