What's LVA's Take on the Causes of recent violence on the Strip?

I keep hearing mentions of increased crime and violence on the Strip from YouTube vloggers and commenters since Las Vegas reopened, but it's hard to get a true sense of the problem. I've always felt relatively safe walking the Strip and in most of downtown, but do I need to be concerned about my safety on my upcoming trip? Is there a specific location or area where there is particular concern?

And

My wife and I are supposed to be going to Las Vegas at the end of October. There have been several shootings on the Strip recently. We are thinking about cancelling our reservations at a large mid strip property and staying off strip for safety reasons. I tend to stay out late and wander from where we stay, but i am thinking it might not be safe to be on the Strip late at night. What is your take on the increased violence on the Strip?

And

What's the speculation as to the cause of the big increase in violent crime in Vegas tourist areas, all occurring with less than half the visitors as normal? Us Vegas diehards are trying to make it back when it is medically safe to do so, now all this crime may also effect our decision when to return.

According to Metro Police crime statistics, violent crime has decreased in the department's jurisdiction in 2020, which isn't hard to believe, since a lot less people have been out on the streets due to the shutdown and pandemic. On the Strip, however, gun crimes and aggravated assaults are up 29% compared to the same period (January-September) last year.

It's definitely a problem. And whereas it used to be quite safe to walk the Strip at any hour of the day and night, now, the nights can be rough, especially the later it gets. Another difference we've noticed is that whereas in normal times, if you saw or sensed trouble brewing on the street, all you had to do was duck into a casino to assure your safety, but now, that's no longer true.

Police have mounted a couple of campaigns. One is Operation Top Gun, in which they look for armed hooligans and actually seized 64 guns from people on the Strip in a recent 30-day period. Operation Persistent Pressure has increased foot, bicycle, and cruiser patrols and has enlisted the aid of security from casino properties. In addition, undercover officers are mingling with the crowds, tactical units such as SWAT are more active in the tourist corridor, and even Homeland Security teams are participating in enforcement activities. All this has diminished the violence to a large degree and a story from last month in the Review-Journal concluded that most visitors still feel safe on the Strip, even late at night.

On the other hand, we recently saw a video of a brawl on the pedestrian bridge between Cosmopolitan and Planet Hollywood in which it looked to us like a gang attacked some random passerby, then jumped on anyone who tried to intervene. Scary.

As for the cause of this upsurge in incidents, in the October Las Vegas Advisor, Anthony Curtis wrote, "I’m in and out of casinos and bars daily and I can attest that there’s a heightened presence of what might be termed an 'unsavory element.'" To say it out loud, there's a much younger, rowdier, and more intoxicated crowd than normal.

But here's the really weird part. One "reason" that’s been making the rounds is -- are you sitting down? -- low room rates. We don't know where this idea got started, but it gained some momentum in the media late in the summer and early in the fall.

Anthony again: "Low room rates attracting the wrong class of visitor is a convenient excuse. It’s also complete nonsense. Some important facts fly in the face of this idea.

"For starters, low rates are nothing new. Las Vegas has turned to crisis pricing throughout its history to coax back customers during slowdowns. Heck, twice a year in July and December, even during good times, room rates are slashed to keep visitation propped up. If low rates bring a 'bad element,' why hasn’t this effect shown up in any of the many previous discounting periods?

"Add to that the fact that the current level of discounting isn’t as low as in the past. Sure, some deals are out there. Enough, in fact, that we’ve listed Room Rates in the Top Ten for the past three months. However, the rates are nowhere near as low as they were after 9/11, the mass shooting, or for several years during and following the recession when we ranked room bargains at or near the top of the Top Ten from 2009 to mid-2016."

As we said, things have settled down for the most part and it's mostly safe again in the tourist corridor. We've never been among those who've used the threat of violence to stop us from going where we want to go and doing what we want to do. We try to keep alert in public and put a healthy distance between ourselves and any trouble that might be brewing as quickly as possible. But we're certainly not downplaying the possibility of trouble brewing or suddenly erupting.

If you're at all uncertain about your safety, at the very least, we'd recommend being somewhere secure as it gets deeper into the night.

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CLIFFORD Nov-08-2020

No Surprise

A bunch of punks come to town, rent a room, split it 4 or more ways, get blitzed on booze they bring in from home... walk around with drinks in their hands looking for trouble...sound familiar?

Neal Greenberg Nov-08-2020

Low rates combined with low airfares

While I agree with Anthony's comment about low room rates not being new, I have never seen the combination of low room rates with low air fares.  IMO, this is the fuel that is feeding the fire.  At one point one could fly from the NYC area to Vegas for $75 ROUNDTRIP.  

However, airfares are more back to normal as are the stories about violence on the Strip.

Sandra Ritter Nov-08-2020

I'm Missing a Point

Regarding this statement 'Another difference we've noticed is that whereas in normal times, if you saw or sensed trouble brewing on the street, all you had to do was duck into a casino to assure your safety, but now, that's no longer true.', why is this no longer true? I'm missing something here, probably because I haven't been to Las Vegas since Covid-19.

Jerry Patey Nov-08-2020

Violence

My theory is now that election is over the violenc will cease to pretrump levels. Violence mainly by BLM group pd by Soros. I assume you know who he is. BLM will simply melt away as they got what they want. Time may  prove me wrong but I doubt it.

Pat Higgins Nov-08-2020

Big Yex

Was on Vegas in the latter part of October and had absolutely no security problems on the strip.  Yes we mostly stayed inside the casinos at night.  We feel if you use good sense you will not have major problems.  

However we did have the unfortunate experience of staying at Paris and got caught up one the blackout for 5 hours.  It was a real mess.  We asked for a comp for our inconvenience with a $50.00 food comp.

Jackie Nov-08-2020

Violence

I think everyone has it all wrong.  Las Vegas has the highest unemployment rate in the nation. The strip has the highest opportunities for easy money.  Random mob violence is an easy cover for "rolling" the unwary.

Eric Forman Nov-08-2020

It's two things...

It's a combination of the pandemic and racial strife. Combine high unemployment with fear and anger and I'm surprised things haven't been worse than they have been. Crime and violence is getting worse all over, but Vegas is easy for thugs because despite all of the police and surveillance, there are still large crowds you don't see anywhere else right now. It's easy to get lost in crowds as well so they think they've got a better chance at success preying on tourists, and with heightened tensions there's going to be a lot more violence among acquaintances as well.

rokgpsman Nov-08-2020

Troublemakers

Lots of people have lost jobs and this covid crisis has been going on nearly all year, so everyone is stressed. Lots of younger adults, especially men, act out their anxiety and stress by drinking and getting machoed-up, easily get into arguments and fights. Think about all the fights that happen during and after a soccer match in Europe, happens all the time. Add in racial differences and politics that are much higher now, you can't get online or watch tv without seeing hateful talk from one group or another. The Strip is a place that people visit for fun, but they easily let their anger and other emotions get them into altercations. Some even like that lifestyle and seek it out. People looking for trouble will either find it or create it. Maybe we need to turn the town back over to the Mob, they had fast and efficient ways to deal with troublemakers. Corp owners are wussies.

Luis Nov-08-2020

Don't Think So

I don't think it's about the lower room prices, or the low air fairs. It's all about less people, less turism, that means more space for the unsavory bunch to gather ans "take over". The "more abandoned" a place looks the more appealing for the unsavory bunch , what's the cure?, do what ever is necesary to take care of covid (that is a public health matter and an indivitual matter), doing things right will take care of this virus asalult, then return to our hotel casinos and take over these places from that group, the more "normal tourism is present, the less bad groups will be there. Nothing to do with prices, a lot to do with health policy and abandonment of the strip and sorounding areas.

Bob Nelson Nov-08-2020

Gangs

The slowdown seems like a ripe environment for gangs to move in to new “territory”.

Edso Nov-08-2020

Staying off strip

We pretty much stay off strip anyway, to get away from the crowds. Gonna be staying at the Orleans for Thanksgiving and make little daytime excursions to other off strip casinos like Tuscany, Gold Coast and those on Fremont Street. Been there done that (walking the strip).  Now just want to play the VP games I like and enjoy an adult beverage or two.

SterlingGuy Nov-08-2020

Another Lockdown Consequence

The lockdowns are having devastating effects all over the country. Governors have locked down populations, closed theaters, theme parks, night clubs, sports, and most everything fun. This has caused untold depression, drug abuse, and yes, violence. So what do you do if you're locked up in your state? Come to Nevada! Nevada smartly opened up (as did Florida) and people can come and enjoy themselves. Unfortunately, other states don't have to deal with people in crowds because they've banned them! Opening up the country will heal the mass depression, drug abuse, and domestic violence plaguing our nation. The spike in problems associated with these things will dissipate quickly as we return to normal.

Gene Brown Nov-08-2020

Biggest Problem in Vegas and in Everywhere Else!

It’s not low airfare! It’s not low room rates! It’s not gangs or young thugs or whoever. It’s COVID 19! Dr. J P and a lot of others of his mindset, deny that COVID 19 even exist. I am believing that when we correct our state of mind in this Country, most of what we are discussing today will disappear.

Roy Furukawa Nov-08-2020

Low Rates+Pandemic=Trouble

I think one thing most people are afraid of is dying from something like COVID-19 where you can get it just from being out and about with other people and the more you do it, the better chance you have of contracting it. The people less likely to be afraid of that are younger people and especially people who really don't care about other people. Like most frequent visitors seem to be doing, I can wait until there is a vaccine or meds to cut down the chance of being hospitalized or dying from the virus.

O2bnVegas Nov-08-2020

Clifford has it right

Opportunist punks.  I doubt they'd stay in a Strip hotel, or Downtown for that matter.  Probably get high, stay high and drive on when they come down from it.

steve crouse Nov-08-2020

The plan

This Vegas violence is just another part of Soros' plan to destabilize the US.
Does "Defund the Police" ring a bell????????

CLIFFORD Nov-09-2020

What?

Is SOROS and its connection with our Bureau of Land Management and Las Wages violence?

Jerry Patey Nov-11-2020

Violence

Read your newspaper. The big think downtown was a group. Have none of you seen violence in major cites. You will not see it on reg news( aka fake news) the only news site that has shown the numerous episodes east coast New York Chicago   They have been burning and looting cities for months as part of their anti trump hate. The only place you see is tucker Carlson and gateway pundit. These are BLM and Antifa groups. Do you even know who they are? They are funded by Soros and billionaire colleague. This has been going on for months and has nothing to do with scam corona virus. Were you afraid to go out with the old Vegas. You went out when you pleased night or day. Certainly corona thing is part of it. People are taking it out on wrong people. Have you not see all troublemakers are mainly white abd have backpacks. Why does a local need a backpack. Did you miss riots Seattle Portland NY. Where have you been. Wait until pres is legally elected. If trump they will start again. Wake up !!!!

CLIFFORD Nov-11-2020

I WISH

I had 32 billion dollars to give to liberal causes...I'm jealous for good reasons...

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