Pickpocket Alert

Thank you for alerting the public to the pickpocket problem in Las Vegas (News, Tips & Bargains, Jan. 22).

Last October, I made reservations at the Imperial Palace. When I arrived at 1 p.m., I was told the room wouldn’t be ready until 3, so I decided to go to the pool. Big mistake! I took my backpack with change of clothes and my valuables. I went swimming for four or five minutes, and when I came back to my lounge chair my backpack was gone. Of course no one had seen anything except for one woman who thought it belonged to the man pulling it out from under the lounge chair.

I reported it to security, but the hotel management acted like it was a daily occurrence and as if I were the criminal. Granted, I was at fault for being naive and trusting, but shouldn’t they have had better security? The police, too, were nonchalant. I lost about $825 worth of cash and items. Please continue to warn people not to walk around with purses, handbags, backpacks, etc., and to be very careful.

RICHARD LEON

Los Angeles