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.
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Last Comments ( 29 )
Well let them try in nevada it's the wild west Iam always a packin local see if there wild!!!!!!!
Security should constantly patrol the parking lots 24 / 7. Also cameras should be in garages and monitored by security. Hire off duty police officers for hours when the garages are most susceptible to random crimes. Proper statistics will provide when and where to be
People better start asking for car escorts and perhaps casinos can offer golf cart rides to your car
Armed Guards at every level during the late night hours would help
The casino should have as many cameras in the garage as the inside of the casino. Oh that's right they only care about protecting their money.
Simple security steps like looking around you more often to detect possible problems is the rule now.
Every. Casino needs 2 security officers who drive thru floors 3x hr
It’s black people
Great article & about time casinos take notice & protect their patrons. We have been to several casinos over the years where we were very uneasy walking too & from our car, especially L'auberge in Baton Rouge where both the parking lot & garage are very dark with many dark corners & a long walk to the casino!
People should have better protection when they go to a casino!
Casino's have elaborate security systems to protect their money, but don't give a crap about the guests.
Well, hell. Go figure, the places mentioned are liberal strangleholds. Can't expect civility where lawlessness runs rampant.
Auga Caliente is not only filthy dirty with no distance between slots, there is no mask enforcement. Was there last week. Every machine was full with people shoulder to shoulder. The slots were beyond dirty. Spilled drinks, bottles, etc Half the people had their masks pulled down. Saw no security on the floor. One man sat next to me who was definitely falling down drunk and oh so dirty Played at least 20 machines. Not one winner. If you want to take your life in your hands, visit Auga Caliente.
Hire more security guards.....Cheap Bastards...
Ya they really should up the security at casinos. And garages.