Like any city, Las Vegas can be dangerous.
You have a 1 in 187 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Sin City, compared to in the whole of the United States where your odds stand at around 1 in 250.
It might sound scary but, like everywhere, crime is not evenly
spread throughout Las Vegas and some neighborhoods are a lot more dangerous
than others.
And, unless you know Las Vegas well, working out which neighborhoods to
avoid can be a tricky business, so we’ve put this guide together for you.
If you’re a tourist and want to visit places other than the Strip, be
sure to steer clear of these areas.
1. West Las Vegas
Notorious for drug and gang activity, the most
dangerous neighborhood is West Las Vegas, located northwest of the Strip.
This is one of the most deprived areas of the city,
with many people living below the poverty line and where violent crime rates
are a whopping 713% higher than the national average.
This translates to a 1 in 32 chance of being a victim of a violent
crime. Shockingly, people in West Las Vegas are running a 1 in 7 risk of being a
victim of any crime.
Homicides are frequently reported in West Las Vegas.
Recent disturbances include an armed barricade situation and a young mother who was stabbed to death in her home.
To put it simply, West Las Vegas is not somewhere you should go when vacationing – either after dark or during the day.
2. Naked City
Naked City is located
just west of The Strat (that big tower at the end of the
Strip) but it’s a far cry from the glitz and glamor of the casinos.
While many people like to walk the Strip, you should never wander into Naked City where violent crime is common. There are numerous reports of homicides, as well as drug dealing.
So bad is Naked
City’s reputation that taxis won’t go there at
night, and it’s generally considered to be one of the roughest parts of Las
Vegas.
3. East Las Vegas / Whitney
Another area worth avoiding is around Whitney, where the violent crime
rate is an astonishing 288% higher than the national average.
With figures that high it’s clear that tourists and newcomers should
stay away.
Unfortunately, this area, in particular the area around the Boulder
Highway, is also where many of the extended stay hotels are situated.
As a result, people looking to move to Las Vegas might think that it’s
worthwhile to stay in one of these cheap hotels while searching for a new
home.
However, these hotels are hotbeds for property crime, with the
neighborhood having rates 167% higher than the national average.
This means that, if you are staying in these areas, you are at an
extremely high risk of having your possessions stolen.
The best advice? Avoid this area at all costs.
4. Charleston Heights
Charleston Heights is one of the lowest income neighborhoods in the
entire country. Here 45.5% of children live below the federal poverty line and unemployment
is 73% higher than national average.
When in Charleston Heights you have a 1 in 13 chance of
being the victim of any crime, with many being committed every day.
For example, between October 3–4, 2022,
at least 50 crimes were reported in and around Charleston Heights, including thefts, assaults, and
burglaries.
One redditor even reported their horrific experience of living in Charleston Heights:
“Well in the 2 years I lived
there, my girlfriend was shot and killed in the neighborhood in a drive-by and
there was another homicide near the 24hr fitness. Not to mention the multiple
times I’ve also heard gunshots at night.”
All of this makes Charleston Heights a neighborhood we would recommend
avoiding.
5. Huntridge
Huntridge, which is located in south Las Vegas, is another area with a
reputation for being dangerous.
The neighborhood is home to Circle Park, a place well known for attracting drug addicts, homeless people, and thieves.
Circle Park was first closed in 2006 after a stabbing. More recently, in
2018, the assault and shooting of an 80-year-old lady in the park caused
outrage in the community.
Despite these crimes, the park is now open once again and is accessible
between 7 a.m. – 11p.m.
As a tourist, it’s probably best not to visit this neighborhood unless
you absolutely have to.
6. Downtown
In Downtown, the “older” part of Las Vegas, you’ll find plenty going on
and will probably want to visit this area when on vacation.
And while it’s a lot safer than it used to be, violent crime rate in
Downtown is 98% higher than the national average.
In fact, violent crime has become such an issue that the local police
force expanded its presence in the area during the summer months.
This was seen as a response to a growing number of violent crimes,
including homicides, that were occurring on Fremont Street – the second most
famous street in Las Vegas.
During summer, police manned entrances around Fremont Street, using
metal detectors, bag checks, and an 8pm curfew for under 21s to reduce crime
and violence rates.
During the first week of operation in the area, police made over 350
stops and seized four firearms.
There are, of course, a ton of fun things to do in Downtown, so if you do head
to this area just be vigilant and stick within a few blocks of Fremont Street.
Don’t Be Too Alarmed
While we may look at various neighborhoods and say that it’s best to
avoid them, the reality is that Las
Vegas is generally a safe city.
In fact, Forbes even ranked it as the 14th safest in a list of American cities with populations over 300,000.
So, if you are visiting, feel free to explore a little. Just be sure to not put yourself in any unnecessary, dangerous environments.
Lead image: Clément Bardot/Wikimedia Commons