5 Tips That Can Help You Avoid Being A Crime Victim
It’s a fact of life that sometimes crimes are going to happen. But that doesn’t mean you have to be the crime victim. Regardless of where you live or work,…
When you’re walking down the street, make sure you are aware of your surroundings so you don’t become the next crime victim.
AndreyPopov via Getty ImagesIt's a fact of life that sometimes crimes are going to happen. But that doesn't mean you have to be the crime victim. Regardless of where you live or work, there are things you can do to keep yourself safe.
I was raised in South Central Los Angeles in a neighborhood surrounded by crime and local gangs. There weren't many options for a young kid in the hood. You either joined a gang or were very good at sports. Luckily I had a mother who knew how to keep me from being a product of my environment. Even though I found other options, there were still crimes happening everywhere.
Tips I Learned To Avoid Being A Crime Victim
According to the FBI's website, a violent crime happens every 26.3 seconds in the United States. And a burglary every 28.3 seconds. These tips can help you avoid be the crime victim the next time one of these criminal events happen.
Tip 1: Be Aware Of Your Surroundings
This woman is not paying attention to her surroundings. She is much more likely of being a crime victim than someone who is aware of their surroundings.
The one thing I learned quickly is how to adapt to my surroundings. One rule of thumb is to keep your head on a swivel. That means you look around often and check your surroundings. That also means get your face out of your phone! There is no text or Tik Tok video that's more important than your life. It can wait.
Tip 2: Mind Your Business
You are not the police or someone else's parent. That means you don't need to intervene when you see a crime. However, if you see something, you should say something. Obviously, if someone is getting the crap kicked out of them, you want to be a good human and help. Just make sure you only intervene as much as possible while keeping yourself safe.
Tip 3: Hide Your Cash
This is a smart shopper. She's putting her money in her wallet before she leaves the store. Lowering her chance of being a crime victim when she goes into the parking lot.
When you're out shopping, don't pull out a wad of money when it comes time to pay. Budget before you walk into the store and only keep that amount on you. You don't want to advertise that you are ballin'. Because, trust me, there's a good chance someone will be waiting in the parking lot who wants to ball for you.
The same thing goes for after you make your purchase. Put your money away before you leave the store. Don't be looking at your receipt and counting your change while walking out to your car.
Tip 4: Park In A Safe Place
I know we're all in a hurry to get our stuff done, but that doesn't mean you take the first spot available if it's not in a safe spot. Get one close to the store if you can, and always avoid dark areas. Look for a well-lit spot and secure all your valuables in your car.
Tip 5: Educate Yourself On Tricks Criminals Use
This man could have just jumped into the car of a crime victim after she got out of the car to retrieve something on her back window that the thief left. Don't let that be you.
If something seems out of the ordinary in your day, don't just write it off as an inconvenience. Be suspicious. Criminals use all kinds of tricks to get you into a vulnerable place. The most popular is putting a piece of paper on the back window of your car so that you have to get out of the vehicle to remove it. That's when they hijack your car, and anyone who might be inside.
I'm not trying to scare you, but these things happen. And these tips are designed to keep you from being a crime victim. Stay safe!
Most Recent ‘WTF’ Casino Robberies In Las Vegas
Casino robberies in Las Vegas happen. But sometimes, they almost seem unreal.
Imagine trying to swindle nearly $770,000 from your job to ride private jets for no reason. Or, posing as a fake casino owner and managing to steal about $100,000 as a 23-year-old.
Well, these are real-life events that have occurred in the crazy environment of Las Vegas casinos.
The lucrative nature of a casino inspires movies, TV shows and sometimes crime. And at times, it can be a crime that almost seems like a thriller movie.
Yes. Crime can find its ways through casino doors. But, I guess this is what makes the whole culture of gaming more exciting in comparison to an insurance office.
From illicit meet-ups, drug trafficking and plain old robbery, the casino can be a magnet to those who are looking for some quick cash.
The Latest Swindle
This past week, officials charged a former employee at the ARIA Resort & Casino for allegedly stealing more than $770,000, according to 8 News Now.
According to the 8 News Now Article, a 38-year-old employee named Brandon Rashaad Johnson was a hotel operations manager since 2013. He would create fraudulent room reservation, charge his credit card then refund the money back on to the same card. So, he allegedly created this convoluted system that allowed him to afford luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, he flew on private jets, and seemed to enjoy having spa visits, attending shows, and he even purchased a home.
Channel 3 reports that he's facing at least 13 charges and, "Court records indicate Johnson is being held at Clark County Detention Center on $100,000 bail. If he posts bond, he would be released on high-level electronic monitoring."
Bad Cop
And this story is pretty tame compared to the other ones in casino history. Plus, let's not forget the time when a former Las Vegas Metro Officer robbed Red Rock, Aliante and the sportsbook at The Rio, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
We may not understand why people decide to rob casinos with -- what seems like -- half-baked plans or ridiculous plots. But, they make for great stories. Scroll down below for some of the wildest casino and hotel robberies in Las Vegas.
The Fake Circa CEO
Would you believe us if we told you that a 23-year-old basically used social engineering to fool casino employees that HE was the actual owner? Well, this actually happened on June 17, 2023. Erik Gutierrez, now 24 posed as a casino owner by calling the Circa Hotel & Casino's cage. According to 8 News Now, Gutierrez basically lied to the casino workers and said he needed payment after the "fire department" did an inspection of the fire extinguishers.
"The payments totaled $314,000, $350,000, and $500,000, plus three smaller deposits, resulting in a loss of $1,170,000 to the hotel," the article from 8 News Now states. Police were able to track down Gutierrez and caught him red-handed. What's miraculous is that he was only 23 years old when he pulled off this heist. We still love the Circa, and we feel bad that this happened to them and to the employee!
The 25-Year-Old Who Tried To Rob Resorts World
We imagine that robbing a casino would take more than just a "simple plan." It probably requires many different solutions, possibilities and thinking. But, one 25-year-old man decided to rob the casino cages at Resorts World Las Vegas and The Venetian Las Vegas, according to Casino.org. Zubaid Ibrahim Al Jarmi robbed Resorts World in November of 2022, and he robbed The Venetian Las Vegas in January 2020. He used the same tactic both times, which involved a note.
Essentially, he went to the casinos' cages and handed the teller a note with most likely a threatening message, according to KTNV. He was serving probation for the robbery that happened in 2020. But according to the Nevada Department of Corrections inamte search, it looks like he's serving prison time in High Desert State Prison.
"Give Me The Stacks,"
"Give me the stacks or I will shoot you," an alleged robber told a worker, Fox 5 reported.
In April 2023, six casinos were robbed: Gold Coast, Green Valley Ranch, Silverton, Rampart, Palace Station and the M Resort. Fox 5 reported that police ended up arresting D’Shante Styles, 33 for these robberies. Like the one stated before, this man also used a note with threating language to coax casino cage workers to give him money. One note from a robbery said, “Put the 10 stacks in the bag or I will shoot!” What a great use of language. How did he get caught? Well, DNA evidence ultimately linked the suspect with the string of robberies.
The Pig-Masked Robber Couldn't Squeal His Way Out Of This One
In 2017, a group of "well-dressed" men burglarized Tēsorīni jewelry store in the luxurious Bellagio Las Vegas, CNN reported. At least one of the assailants was wearing a pig mask while robbing the jewelry store. This scene seems almost "Purge" like. The pig mask adds another layer of horror to this incident.
Channel 3 reported that the man who allegedly donned the pig mask was a 21-year-old named Sebastian Gonzalez. But in a twist of events, the alleged suspect said that he was forced to partake in the robbery after, "He said people in Mexico threatened to hurt his family if he didn't follow their instructions to be the group's lookout."
A Man Used 'Blackface' While Robbing A Casino
This is absolutely despicable. A 26-year-old man named Cameron James Kennedy robbed the New York-New York in 2018, the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote. However, he painted his face black and robbed the casino cage, which has many media outlets saying he used "blackface."
He allegedly robbed the casino out of $23,000 at gunpoint. The Daily Mail further reported that Kennedy was under federal supervision for previous bank robberies. And in fact, he cut his GPS ankle monitor just hours before committing his New York-New York robbery.
