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do you wear expensive watches/jewelry downtown?

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by imwired, Sep 5, 2013.

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  1. imwired

    imwired High-Roller

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    My DH thinks some of downtown is pretty sketchy (out of the canopy, e.g. El Cortez area). Do you worry about walking around there wearing an expensive watch or other jewelry?
    I say Vegas has more security than most places and we don't walk over there late at night.
     
  2. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    It's not sketchy, find something else to worry about. No one is going to be grabbing your arm to steal that watch, why would they when everyones wallet is full of cash?
     
  3. Keyser Soze

    Keyser Soze Low-Roller

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    My watch is worth around $800? But as Merlin said, I usually have $5k cash in my pocket.

    I don't worry about it at all. If someone points a gun at me (very, very unlikely), the can have my watch and wallet.

    If they don't have a gun, I will kick their ass.
     
  4. imwired

    imwired High-Roller

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    good point....lots of people are carrying cash so that's probably a better target.
     
  5. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    My watch looks like more than it is and I carry a couple grand around on the strip or downtown, BUT I'm always very mindful of my surroundings and keep my wallet and money clip in my front-pocket with my hand in it when I'm in crowds. When the lights go off downtown for the lightshow and all the heads look up, that's when the pick-pockets go to work.
     
  6. Kobra2848

    Kobra2848 VIP Whale

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    I wear my Omega Seamaster all the time in Vegas and don't think about it unless someone makes a compliment about it. I use to wear a Shelby Cobra necklace that my wife had made for me out of 18K gold but once gold hit $1200/oz it now spends it's life in the sock drawer.
    Mark
     
  7. Vagabond

    Vagabond Guest

    The matter is, you can wear whatever you want, and carry whatever you want. But when you don't have training it makes you a target. Most people with the urge to rob you don't have any kind of martial arts or weapons training, but if you do that will almost always give you a upper hand. The people who want to rob you or pickpocket you are usually doing it just to get that next drug fix.
     
  8. Gino

    Gino "The King of Inappropriate."

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    It's not a street fair in Haiti, you're not in Rio Di Janero, it's not Detroit, nor is it the crime ridden slum New York City was during the Ed Koch era, it's Las Vegas - an intentional adult playground - you are safe there. It's so weird to read posts asking this :evillaugh. Be aware of your surroundings, front pocket your cash, wear whatever you want. Have fun and don't let petty fears like this dictate your agenda. Tons of cops on foot and bikes going up and down Fremont as well. :beer:
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2013
  9. zamboni

    zamboni VIP Whale

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    Why single out downtown? I am just curious, I have spent a ton of time downtown, and stayed at the El Cortez Cabana Suites, and walked up to FSE and not once felt unsafe.
     
  10. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

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    Did you see the My DH thinks some of downtown is pretty sketchy part? Not a single out downtown question.
     
  11. 4Eyes

    4Eyes Low-Roller

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    I guess it depends -- what do you consider an "expensive watch?" If I had a Patek Philippe, I would not wear it in any LV Casino, Downtown or Strip. I do, however, have a pretty nice rotation of everyday watches that I would not hesitate to wear wherever I might venture, but I would not venture in Downtown LV outside of the canopy, particularly at night, whether I was wearing a watch or not.

    If confronted, I'll give up my watch and my wallet, but not my life.
     
  12. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    Agreed. Nice post
     
  13. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

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    I'd wear a Patek Philippe DT, strip. Wouldn't give it a second thought.
    I wear my Stowa.:thumbsup:
     
  14. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    I would never wear an expensive watch or jewelry downtown!


    Though, to be fair, I wouldn't wear an expensive watch or any kind of jewelry, period.
     
  15. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    Are homeless people some sort of experts on jewelry evaluation now?

    Dont worry about it. Its much more dangerous to wear it on the strip.

    If I were a crook like say a slight if hand artist or pick pocket, i would dress nicely and work in the fanciest hotel i could find where it would be worth my while. I would not waste my time on someone walking outside the canopy on high alert.

    Just in case you are curious, one of the best spots for a person of these skills to operate would be the conservatory in bellagio. Lots of people with bulging pockets who are gawking around plus lots of crowds and people bumping into you.

    A team would be best because they could pose as a husband and wife.

    Also choke points on the strip would be nice like around the carnival court area. The construction and all that sort of funnels people into a smaller area. That and the area in front of harrahs.

    When you are downtown you can see the "threat" so you are on higher alert. knowing this your chances of being robbed are lessened.

    The strip is more dangerous then downtow.
     
  16. xmarksx

    xmarksx VIP Whale

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    "Also choke points on the strip would be nice like around the carnival court area. The construction and all that sort of funnels people into a smaller area. That and the area in front of harrahs."

    Eddie, my point, exactly.

    I believe the greatest risk for your watch, wallet or purse is in front of TI packed together and watching the pirate show. Should you have situational awareness under the canopy? Yes. Should it be heightened walking East toward El Cortez? Yes. Is it pretty safe in the El Cortez area? Yes.
     
  17. 4Eyes

    4Eyes Low-Roller

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    Eddie,

    I can take precautions against pickpockets in a crowded casino or Strip environment. My concern is the guy with a knife or a gun in a not-so-crowded location. If a street thug wants to steal my watch, he is not going to know if it is a $3k or a $100k watch. He will still want it.
     
  18. Someone

    Someone High-Roller

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    while I don't think that wearing a nice watch or expensive jewelery downtown puts you at a significantly greater risk I really don't see the need for it unless you are going to dinner and dressed up for one of the nicer restaurants

    other than that it is a crowded place where you are bumping into people carrying and loaded up with yards of fruity drinks and cans and cups of beer

    with jewelry specifically and a necklace I would be more concerned with a snatch and run where someone is after the value of the metal alone to fill their "cash for gold" envelope and really that can happen anywhere.......like wearing a nice watch or necklace to a baseball game or football game.......crowds and drunks and people rubbing "elbows" and really no need to dress to impress

    as for the comment I quoted you would probably be surprised what those that do target specific people for robbery/mugging can pick out and what brands they are familiar with......after all for some of them it is a "career" and even if they can't pick out a fake they can always use the fake to lure in some other sucker and rob them and or sell them junk for an inflated price playing on their desire to "get a deal" (on something they know deep down has to be stolen to be such a great deal)......but then if greed did not work/attract the victims email and craigslist scams would never happen
     
  19. imwired

    imwired High-Roller

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    We rarely go to the strip - either spend time downtown or off-strip
     
  20. imwired

    imwired High-Roller

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    I agree....I'd be more concerned in an area where there are no tourists, esp after dark.
     
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