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Metro launches "Trick Roll" crackdown to protect tourists

There's a new initiative in Las Vegas to protect tourists and locals from becoming victims.

The suspects are prostitutes, but their occupation isn't what police are focusing on.

That's simply the catalyst for prolific offshoot crimes in one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

Many people hear "prostitution" and they think victimless crime, but it's not.

Many of the victims were simply targeted, and never actually solicited a prostitute.

Many of the prostitutes themselves are underage and coerced by pimps to rob and steal from people who come to Las Vegas to have a good time.

Ashley Anderson, Jasmine Conway, just two of fifty suspected prostitutes charged under Metro's new VETO initiative, Vice Enforcement of Top Offenders.

"The theft related crimes these prolific prostitutes are involved in is millions of dollars," says Metro Vice Lieutenant, Karen Hughes.

VETO focuses specifically on the strip corridor, where many of the repeatedly-convicted prostitutes Metro labels as top offenders target people to rob in the top hotels and casinos.

"A lot of times the violence is encountered when the pimps get involved, when there appears to be a large profit, or maybe a high roller," says Lt. Hughes.

The robberies are known as "trick-rolls."

In 2006 there were 124 reported; in 2007, 118.

Last year there were 221 reported.

That was up 87 percent from 2007.

"We're working hand in hand with the district attorney's office," says Lt. Hughes.

Metro is hoping that partnership fosters more prosecutions and convictions, potentially even stiffer felony penalties.

"They are not the type of image or impression we want any tourist leaving Las Vegas with," says Hughes.

Or locals who live in the Valley; they've been victimized too.

That's part of Metro's point, nobody is immune to becoming a target, especially when out partying at a place like the strip.

There were more than 7,000 vice arrests last year.

This new initiative could help top that this year.