Just got back, TR soon...but...a warning..

Whew....completely exhausted...isn't that the way it's supposed to be? lol

I'll get together a report soon but wanted to post...people, it's getting scarry out there. Several times we didn't feel as safe as we always have. Just an FYI...3 couples walked from Bally's to Ellis Island for a late lunch...maybe about 2pm. All was well until walking back (4 of us - 2 stayed playing blackjack). On the street between EI and the convenience store were about 6male street people. 2 of them were arguing and seemed very out of it. We were able to get past them before being approached. About an hours later the 1 couple that stayed behind started walking back to Bally's. They were not so lucky. Those 6 guys blocked their path & wanted money. Our friends said just lost it all....one of the guys pulled a switchblade knife & threatened him. Odd as it may seem, a couple of those guys said they would "settle" for their leftovers they were carrying and put down the knife. Our friends left quickly and made it back to Bally's.
Later that night we saw 3 of those same guys on the walkway between Bally's & Bill's. They were harassing and rude to almost everyone that walked by.
Take extra care ...some people are desperate....Stay Safe!!

 

Yeah - that area can be bad. Surprised at that time of day you had much problems - I would never be out there from about 11 pm to 5 am.

I know a lot of people that walk all the way to Terribles and from Terribles to Hard Rock - during the daylight hours maybe, but after dark - never.

Also, although your story was about a group, I would also be weary of individuals and/or people hiding behind things and startling you.

Your friends were very lucky.

 

Scary, glad everyone is ok!!!

 

I hope police/ security were able to put a stop to those guys before any real trouble started. The last thing LV needs right now is tourists being afraid to go there due to stuff like this.

 

Thanks for the heads up. Hope the police put a stop to this quickly.

 

I cab it out of those backstreets!

 

I know it is sometimes easier said than done, but make sure you are always comfortable in your surroundings and aware of potential dangers ahead. If you see a group of persons loitering a block ahead of you, just cross the street way in advance if possible.

If you are in a crowded area (which wasnt the case here) ignore panhandlers, time share people and the like. If you even engage them and say no thanks you are giving them a foot in the door. If you dont engage them, the next person will so they will leave you alone.

I appreciate the OP comments though since it is a good wake-up call to all of us. I have told people that I feel 100% safe on the strip 24/7. While this is good, it is also bad because I tend to put my guard down.

If we have people one block from the strip pulling knives to get leftover Ellis Island Food, this is kind of scary. Though I gotta admit, I did mace some girl scouts last trip for some Metro Pizza.....(just kidding).....

Thanks for the heads up....

 

I agree. I know it can be scary/unsafe at a lot of places. Thanks for the info.

 

And they say downtown is bad....

 

Did the friends who had the switchblade pulled on them report it to the police?

 

Thanks for the post, which is particularly disturbing as I plan on visiting EI (again) on my upcoming trip. Wackos can be encountered anywhere, but demanding money and threatening with a knife is something else. Not that it would do any good, but I definitely would have called the police as soon as I was in the clear ... if not sooner. 911 is easy to remember! It wouldn't hurt if those who encountered this thread did so even now; it might prompt a bit more surveillance.

 

Thank you so much for the warning...hubby goes running down in that area around 5 am. Maybe I can finally get him to pay for the gym instead.

 

Chiming in to thank you for the warning. I'm very happy to know that your friends were just scared and not hurt thank goodness.

I was telling my husband about what happened and he suggested that the casinos pitch in and provide extra security on the overpasses and along known areas where dangerous folks gather. I told him i doubted that would happen, but the idea does have merit. I'm thinkin' that as soon as the casinos begin to lose money because people might not casino surf due to dangerous strip conditions, they might consider kicking in for extra security.

You think i'm dreaming?

 

thanks for the heads up, that bridge between Ballys and Bills has been getting busier and busier in my opinion with the number of people hanging out on the bridge. And the other ones around town aren't deserted either. In that enclosed spot it's only going to take a small misunderstang or wrong move for an incident to flare up in my opinion.

I hate to think that they need to be more vigilant in those areas for security, but I do wonder if maybe it's time the county and the businesses there start taking a look at doing something in the area.

 

I don't know why more people just don't rent cars out there...especially for times like these. Even if the car sits without being used for the week, if you have 4 people, it is going to cost you $50 for shuttle service and another $50 possible in cab fare. I am renting a car for $100 for 4 nights with 3 guys going out. Even if we don't use it, it is better than a shuttle to and from the airport. But we always make 2 trips to Ellis Island for the steak and beer deal and I wouldn't think of walking there. I treat Las Vegas as a place where the casinos are their own worlds and I don't have a problem driving almost everywhere, except when on the Strip or the Old Strip, then I will hop from place to place. If I am going off either of those, my ass is in my rental car...why not...it's the safest place for me to be.

 

we don't venture off the stip much
but I did notice a lot more groups hanging around between
Bally's and EI when we were cabbing it in
It doesn't look like it would be too far of a walk but it must seem
longer when there are people hanging out

I also didn't like the increase in the people on the bridge selling
stuff and panhandling

I have noticed in the past that bike cops would chase these people away
but this time they let them stay. You just don't feel as safe

 

And that’s fine if it works for you.

I however like to drink the microbrews at Ellis Island and when visiting would never consider putting my, and other peoples, health and possibly lives at risk by climbing behind the wheel of a car after visiting there.

I have no doubt the incident happened – I visited EI twice on my recent visit and one time (in broad daylight ) saw 2 police cars deal with an incident at the Super8 next door as I arrived. I saw no other issues at all around that area and at no time did I feel threatened or see any possible threats.

If you are walking there from the strip then I would suggest using Flamingo rather than cutting along Harmon (I think – by Pho tower) and then down Koval. The Koval route is deserted.

Even on Flamingo if I had any second thoughts I’d walk on the same side as the Westin – many more places on that side to walk into if you are at all uncomfortable.

I would have no hesitiation in returning personally – I even use that corner to catch the bus downtown rather than the duece (although that may change with the upcoming route changes)

 

If I'm going to have more than one beer, I would definitely take a cab. However, walking ANYWHERE off the Strip or Old Strip is a bad idea...at least in my humble opinion. And considering that we go and have the steak dinner that comes with a nice pilsner of beer, and then we gamble for a couple hours and end up paying closer to $100 for our $6.99 steak special, it is no problem to drive when we leave. I agree though that if you are going to drink more than that, you should cab it.

 

Thank you for the "heads up"!

 

As others have stated, when you witness or are involved in something like this, you NEED to call the police and if it's close to a hotel/casino, report it to their security too. If the police aren't informed, they can't respond and the locations and situations that get their attention are the ones that get numerous reports.