Casino Parking Garages Continue to Be Settings for Violent Crimes
Posted on: September 19, 2020, 09:00h.
Last updated on: September 19, 2020, 11:27h.
Multiple US gaming property garages were the scenes of shootings in recent months. In the latest incident, a shooting took place last Monday at the Agua Caliente Casino garage in Palm Springs, Calif.
The victim is expected to recover from the wounds. The violent attack at the?Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians’-owned casino is being investigated as an attempted homicide.
Last month, a fatal shooting took place at an Emerald Queen Casino garage in Tacoma, Washington. In July, another fatal shooting occurred at Winner’s Way parking garage in Florida’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.
It is not surprising these crimes take place in parking garages, said Brad Bonnell, a principal of the Hotel Security Group, to Casino.org, given their “isolation” and how they provide criminals “anonymity. Predators know that casino-hotel garages … [have] well-funded tourists.”
Bonnell is a former vice president of loss prevention for Extended Stay America, and ex-global director of security for InterContinental Hotels. Earlier, he was chief of staff for the Georgia State Patrol and an agent for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
It is often difficult to prosecute defendants in casino crimes. Bonnell says victims may not want to repeatedly return to the location of the casino to testify in drawn-out court proceedings. That is especially true of guests who live in another state than where the casino is located, Bonnell said.
Garage Design Can Encourage Crime
He says that a garage’s design can make a property more inviting for criminals. Bonnell notes how many garages are enclosed, have multiple levels, and sloping ramps. They have stairwells and elevators, he added.
The large number of parked cars can make a garage darker by blocking light. Most garages are open to the public, Bonnell said, so entry and exit are easier.
Smarter building design can lower crime risk in garages. Via “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design” (CPTED), hotels and casinos can lower the risk for garages to become targets for crime, Bonnell said. Lighting and the design of elevators and stairways can be improved.
Pedestrian access to a garage can be discouraged by installing fencing or another type of screening. Also, having multiple signs and graphics will allow visitors to move quickly throughout the garage.
He also recommends that any restrooms should have maze-type entrances. Visitors, this way, will be at lower risk for muggings or other attacks.
Panic buttons, intercoms, sound surveillance, surveillance cameras, and security personnel patrolling in the garage — especially uniformed officers — will also lessen the risk for crime, Bonnell said.
To further reduce the risk of crime, Bonnell recommends hotels and casinos develop a security strategy. A key part of any plan is for hotels and casinos to analyze relevant data.
Some data relates to past crimes in a garage or hotel/casino. Other data includes the number and types of calls made to local police.
More complex numerical analysis can come from the CAP Index Scoring System. It offers scores for crime risk using an algorithm.
Casino Visitors Should Play It Safe
Players and other casino visitors should remember to take items with them after locking their cars in garages, or hide items in cars (such as in trunks), the Las Vegas Metro police said in 2018 after a series of incidents.
Women should keep purses close. Men should carry wallets in a front pocket instead of a back pocket.?Security staff at gaming properties often will walk visitors to their cars if requested, KSNV, a Las Vegas TV station reported.
Be aware, too, if anyone is watching you getting cash at a cashier’s cage. They may try to follow you as you exit the casino.
Related News Articles
Card Counter Suing Hard Rock Hotel Over Winnings
Most Popular
Most Commented
Most Read
LOST VEGAS: First Documented ‘Trick Roll’ by a Prostitute
Last Comments ( 29 )
Ther should definitely be security cameras inside parking garage stairwells....I think that should be mandatory at all casinos.
Parking Garage related crime is nothing new, nothing new at all. Almost every Las Vegas property suffers from it, the Las Vegas Airport garage suffers from it. Bike patrols help, but don't stop it. What will stop it is if someone is caught vandalizing or committing a crime in a parking garage, the punishment needs to be severe and quick and the courts make a public example of them. The courts have become so soft on crime all that is going to happen is we are going to see an increase in parking garage related crime
I think that if someone wins a large amount of money .... A guard should escort them to their vehicle. Also, security cameras and good lighting is important.
I found the insecurity at MGM Detroit last week. My friend and I felt VERY UNSAFE leaving the car, and walking in to wait for the elevator. It was one of the first things we discussed and how this could be averted if the "higher ups" paid attention to the safety details. No valet, no security in the parking structure??? It can't be good.
Put in metal detectors like the kind at big events and court buildings so people cant, at least, bring in guns and/or knives.Theives also hate bright lights, kinda like vampires.Try putting up ropes of garlic!JK.
Casino makes tons of money in fact in some table games they just clean sweep So here an idea they should have security guard at the garage floors in constant present on foot and marked veichles and on there veichles have flashers in blues indications the color blue is the presence of police in this prevent crime 109%
The way thing are going I thing we will have to have parking stops just like airport parking with heavy recorded camera's
Ya know, these customers should not have to deal with being afraid to park in the Casino's parking lot. It's the Casino's responsibily that their customer's feel safe and are safe. If they need to put security on every level with more than 1 security guard on each. They should show their customer's that spending their money and choosing that particular Casino to go to. I bet the more security the more customer's.
Why not have rhe casino give or mail you a check for large amounts. Im sure there are many ways the casinos can help if they truly wanted to.
More Security and cameras in all garages. Not just VIP or Black/Gold card holders. Jackpots can be won by any card level member. Blue emergency buttons that activste cameras specifically in police video room and triggers alarms on officers roverd when activated.
I think it is the casinos responsibility to provide a safe environment for its patrons. At least security cameras and visable manning of obscure areas. Crime is everywhere but crooks can easily target these places...if you want my business then protecting me is part of the exchange.
Yes and also these stupid casinos need to stop bringing in the clientele that they are bringing in by charging so cheap!!! Keep those people away have sense casinos !! Protect your employees and guest or your gonna have a law suit on your hands
Stay out of casinos. Waste of time and your hard earned money. Won't get mugged if you're not there
casinos should be liable. we spend our money there we should be able to safely get to and from our cars. casinos make massive profits they should be required to insure a crime free area for their patrons