What do you carry in vegas?

Quote: rxwine

Yeah, if you're a guy, and generally can take care of yourself, there's not as many situations where you have to get worried about.

Cathy Hulbert, the poker player, says a woman alone has a huge chance of getting robbed. She's been robbed many times in the parking lots of card rooms in SoCal, but the robbers are stupid because she never carries cash, she has an account in every card room and the money is there. She's had women friends who were hospitalized and even killed leaving card rooms.

Whenever I leave a casino, I always force myself to look angry, and mutter a lot about how the casino ripped me off for all my money. No matter how much I won. I figure if anybody was really watching me or following me, they would figure I lost everything and give up.

Quote: konceptum

Whenever I leave a casino, I always force myself to look angry, and mutter a lot about how the casino ripped me off for all my money. No matter how much I won. I figure if anybody was really watching me or following me, they would figure I lost everything and give up.

They're going to rob you because they just saw the cashier give you a lot of money. Or they saw you flashing a wad around. They could care less if its money you won or whats left of what you started with. They usually don't pick people at random, they want a sure thing. They can be buried deep in the slots 75' away from you, and still see the cashier counting out a lot of cash.

Quote: RaleighCraps

I'd be interested to know which casino was involved in this issue.........

I have gone to the cage and "put up front cash money" at Paris, Rio, Aria, Beau Rivage, and Harrah's Tunica.

I have taken money from the cage, and I have taken it from the craps table. On one trip Paris did make me take a minimum draw of $750, but other times I have been able to do $500.
I did have one trip to Harrah's Tunica that was a disaster. I guess instead of telling them I wanted to deposit "up front cash money", they thought I wanted to put cash on deposit. This locked all my money up at the cage. I was not allowed to draw against it at the table. It took awhile to get that straightened out.

This was at Mandalay Bay. They were telling me that I was expected to take it out at tables. Looking back I just assumed I got someone new at the cage.

I had zero issues the first trip I did this. I have a friend that does this 3-4 times a year every time he goes to Vegas and never had anything like that happen to him. I'd try it again, but in the last year or so I've found a way of dealing with my cash that I feel better about.

I still gamble there all the time and still think it is one of the best casinos down on that side of the strip.

I never carry a wallet with me. Too conspicuous. I just carry my necessary cards, which is my bank card, players' card(s), and drivers license. I safe up the rest. For cash, I take enough to play with (always about $500) or use my ATM.

Quote: gofaster87

I could understand if someone had previously been mugged but to look for shadows and change direction out of precaution is just plain fear and ridiculous.

I was robbed at gunpoint once while carrying a considerable amount of cash. I don't think the gun was loaded, but it's not the kind of thing you gamble with, given the stakes. even so, I kept calm and managed to trick the robbers into taking less than half of what I carried; the rest stayed hidden.

Along with me was a guy about 2 meters tall and built like a tank. He tried to hand over his wallet, his cell phone and his Palm <roll-eyes>

Quote: EvenBob

They're going to rob you because they just saw the cashier give you a lot of money. Or they saw you flashing a wad around.

Which is why I don't leave a casino directly after being at the cashier. And I never flash wads of cash around, just because I think that's a bad idea in general. (It seems to me the only reason to flash a wad around is to show other people you have money, or to make them impressed with you. I have no desire for either of those situations, so that never comes up.)

On a side note, I did try the pill bottle technique both yesterday and today. Yesterday was fine, but today my jeans are a bit tighter, and I do see a problem, as the pill bottle is very uncomfortable in my pocket. I still like the idea, I'll just have to find a better way of doing it and/or just stick to using it on baggier pants days.

Years ago, I had found a cigarette case at a yard sale. I'm not a smoker, but the size of it appealed to me as a method of carrying cash. This was one of the metal cigarette cases with spring-held flaps on the inside to hold the cigarettes against the case. It was fairly thick, and was just barely able to carry $5k in it. I say 'just barely' because eventually, the latch that held it closed did break. I threw it away at that point. Since then, I've only found thinner cigarette cases, that won't hold anything meaningful. (Except, of course, cigarettes.) I'm assuming that the smaller ones were more 'ladies' cases and the bigger one was a man's case, but I'm not sure on that. Anyway, it was very convenient, and slid easily into my front pocket.

Quote: Nareed

I don't think the gun was loaded, but it's not the kind of thing you gamble with, given the stakes.

Many, many, years ago, in college, I was walking back to the dorms from a party with a female friend of mine. A man with a knife ran up to us. I was naive at the time, but looking back, I realize he was high on drugs. Anyway, he didn't demand any money, rather, he demanded the woman. It was very clear was his intentions were.

Most people would agree that if someone drew a gun on us and demanded our money, we'd be most likely to hand over our wallet, throw-away wallet, whatever, just to get out of the situation. But if someone instead demands your woman, or sister, or daughter, or even a female friend of yours, what is your reaction, and what would you do?

Quote: konceptum

But if someone instead demands your woman, or sister, or daughter, or even a female friend of yours, what is your reaction, and what would you do?

I would rely on myself and the permitted weapon that I carry. Always remember that the police are there to catch criminals after they commit their crimes and you need to be able to rely on yourself for your own immediate defense.

I don't disagree with you. However, I guess I'm more interested in hearing answers from those people, like myself, who don't carry a weapon.

Quote: konceptum

But if someone instead demands your woman, or sister, or daughter, or even a female friend of yours, what is your reaction, and what would you do?

Or me?

You don't give up a person unless the alternative is worse. So if the animal has a gun, then comply while you look for an opening or help. Against a knife, though, I'd run or fight, depending on circumstances, and also scream at the top of my lungs. Against a knife, too, I'd use mace or a taser if I had either.

I wouldn't mind carrying a gun for self protection, but that's illegal in Mexico. You can have a pistol or even a shotgun at your home or office, but you can't carry one.

Good answer Nareed. Hopefully none of us will have to face this situation. My sister did face it. An animal attacked her in her own home and held a knife to her neck and threatened to kill her sleeping young boys if she screamed. She did what she needed to do to save herself and her boys. They never caught the thug. She survived and put this terrible thing behind her (25 years ago).

Konceptum - While I am a strong advocate of permitted weapons, I likewise am strongly against anyone carrying that has not recieved training and is not totally comfortable with their gun. Unarmed, I would like to think that I would respond like Nareed commented.

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Quote: gofaster87

Im sorry but Id rather die trying to save a loved one or a female partner whether the perp had a gun or not.

It's too easy to kill someone with a gun, be it you or the person you want to protect. The best defense is to shoot first. The only defense, really, as trying to knock the gun out, running, struggling, etc are more likely to get you killed.

Quote:

What makes you think you wont get shot even if you comply?

Not much, but you're more likely to die if you don't comply.

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Quote: timberjim

Konceptum - While I am a strong advocate of permitted weapons, I likewise am strongly against anyone carrying that has not recieved training and is not totally comfortable with their gun.

It is probably because of the fact that I have had arms training, that I refuse to carry a gun. I feel that I'm way too emotional, and with tendencies towards anger, and I feel that carrying a gun would give me the freedom to respond in ways that I shouldn't. Thus, I don't carry one. However, I do agree with both of your statements. People do have the freedom to carry a weapon and should be allowed to do so, but they should have proper training with it.

Quote: gofaster87

If the person is close enough to grab a personal possession than that person is close enough to disarm. If the mugger is smart he would make you throw the wallet but that would be another distraction someone could act upon. Good training is the best defense. I think more people should get some kind of martial arts or general self defense training. Keeping in shape helps as well.

i totally agree. like stupid horror movies where when someone is being attacked they just stand there screaming. if no help is going to come do anything but scream. spit, run, use your head instead of letting it be cut off! remember, an attacker is also at risk of becoming the victim! if someone grabs you think of that limb as yours to take. break it off, then beat him with it! you don't have to be stronger than your attacker. use leverage, look for a weakness in your attacker, use anything on or around you, but especially use your head!

sorry, i'm just in that kind of mood right now. :)

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Quote: inap

...do anything but scream. spit...

I had a friend who lived in New York, who insisted that he would just fake a seizure anytime someone tried to accost him. He said it was always effective, because nobody was expecting it, and they didn't know how to react to it, so they would just run away. I never was able to figure out if he was serious, but I also admit that I really badly want to try it.

Quote: konceptum

I had a friend who lived in New York, who insisted that he would just fake a seizure anytime someone tried to accost him. He said it was always effective, because nobody was expecting it, and they didn't know how to react to it, so they would just run away. I never was able to figure out if he was serious, but I also admit that I really badly want to try it.

the element of surprise is important in determining who is the victim. most attackers have this advantage over their victims, but you can use this against your attacker too. i remember watching on the news where a security camera caught an elderly woman being mugged. i mean she was in her 80's! she started hitting the attacker with her purse and he ran like suddenly he was the victim. you know this hoodlum could easily overpower this old lady if he wanted to but her actions caught him by surprise and he ran for his life. too funny.

this action wouldn't always be recommended, but the point is the element of surprise is important. if you are always alert and aware of situations and your surroundings it will be harder to become a victim. expect and be ready for anything. this will help to make you look less vulnerable and you will be able to react more appropriately.

hell just a few choice words might be all thats needed to scare your attacker away. but it may come down to your wallet or your life so you need to be able to think straight so you can get out of this alive.

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Quote: inap

the element of surprise is important in determining who is the victim.
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One of my favorite episodes of Boston Legal is where Denny Crane (William Shatner) is being mugged at gunpoint in a parking garage, and he pulls out his own gun and shoots the robber in the knee and both feet. Then he says "Don't you just love guns?" I laughed so hard my wife almost called 911..