British tourist carjacked after buying panhandler breakfast on Vegas Strip

Stephen Curran

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005 | 11:08 a.m.

A British tourist trying to help a panhandler on the Strip was robbed at gunpoint early this morning after buying the man breakfast, Metro Police said.

Police say the tourist, whose name was not available, was approached by the beggar, who asked the tourist to buy him breakfast, about 2:30 this morning near the Circus Circus resort.

The tourist agreed and bought him pancakes at a restaurant near the resort, after which he and the panhandler got into the tourist's rental car, Sgt. Chris Jones, a Metro spokesman, said.

The pair then traveled to a casino near Broadbent Boulevard and Russell Road, where the beggar, possibly a homeless man, robbed the tourist and took his car, an untold amount of money and other belongings, he said.

Jones said he did not know why the tourist was driving around with the panhandler.

Jones said he was unable to provide a description of the robber this morning.

Jones said the incident should serve as a cautionary tale.

"We certainly don't want to destroy or take away from a person's willingness to be charitable," he said. "You have to be wary of your surroundings and be cognizant of what people are asking."

The incident, one of many robberies the department responded to Monday night, was under investigation this morning, Jones said.

Officer Jose Montoya, a Metro spokesman, said he did not know many of the roughly 2,500 calls the department receives in each 24-hour period come from the Strip but said Metro normally dispatches between eight and 12 officers to patrol Las Vegas Boulevard on a typical weeknight.