‘Dateline NBC’ special to focus on Vegas crime

Monday, June 15, 2009 | 1:55 a.m.

"Vegas Undercover"

“Dateline NBC” and Chris Hansen will give the nation an undercover look at crime in Las Vegas tonight.

Hansen and his team spent almost a year with Metro Police to produce the “Vegas Undercover” special, looking as authorities investigate pimps, auto thieves and money counterfeiters.

At one point, Hansen joins Metro detectives and Lt. Karen Hughes from the Pimp Investigation Team while an undercover officer poses as a prostitute on the Strip. A man approaches the undercover officer, offers to be her pimp and is later arrested for pandering.

The “Dateline NBC” special shows undercover Metro officers setting up a fencing operation in an open storefront in an industrial area of Las Vegas. Officers buy stolen guns and cars for cash, sometimes purchasing vehicles for as little as $550.

Hansen also witnesses a man demonstrating for undercover cops his method for producing fake money. The man later explains he sells the phony bills and claims some of his product goes into circulation at a local casino.

“Vegas Undercover” airs tonight at 10 p.m. on NBC.

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By LV4LIFE

6/15/09 at noon

Suggest removal

Too bad they couldn't investigate the wrong doings of Metro, a major source of crime here in Vegas.
By Rebinreno

6/15/09 at 3:31 p.m.

Suggest removal

So true.
Metro is crap.
They are dirty.
By stevem

6/15/09 at 8:56 p.m.

Suggest removal

the worst crime in vegas is putting that HUGE photo of better midler's old upper thigh at the airport.

that's a crime against humanity.
By fred

6/16/09 at 7:11 a.m.

Suggest removal

Watching the special I was aghast at Metro's "shop" sting that allowed car thieves to walk out the door in order to keep the sting's cover. One thief returned after stealing a second car, this time at gun point. As a victim of car theft I now wonder if metro had already caught whoever stole my car, but let them go allowing them to victimize me. What sort of law enforcement is this?
By stevem

6/16/09 at 1:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

i agree, fred.

how many criminals were within arm's reach of the police and walked away only to kill someone.

i let my license tags expire and 2 days later i get pulled over, but if i steal a car i get to walk away only to steal again?

i hate cops.
By nednougat

6/16/09 at 5:51 p.m.

Suggest removal

I watched the special, and really wasn't surprised in any way. Mostly minorities engaged in what they do best. Stealing and lying. Some trailer park trash, too. There's very little what we can do about them. Just try to avoid them. They have a right to live here, too. So let's focus on those who stuff children into dumpsters, and other atrocities.
By steve7952

6/16/09 at 6:14 p.m.

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I recall when I was a victom of a felony battery and armed robbery, Metro spent more time checking me out for warrants etc while the felon was walking away. One of many reasons we moved out of the Las Vegas Valley. It's clearly defines "Anarchy".
By Mike123

6/16/09 at 7:19 p.m.

Suggest removal

"Watching the special I was aghast at Metro's "shop" sting that allowed car thieves to walk out the door in order to keep the sting's cover."

They clearly stated that once he mentioned the armed robbery, they were taking him down on the spot.

Stupid meth heads are so funny-especially on film breaking a laundry list of laws...Let alone giving a how a make fake $$$ seminar. LOL, freakin idiot was soooo proud of himself.