City brief · Los Angeles
Tourist Scams in Los Angeles: What to Watch For and Where
LA is safe in the areas tourists visit, and its scams are mostly Hollywood-Boulevard nuisances plus one real property risk: car break-ins. Know the costumed-character fee, keep your car empty, and mind a few areas, and the city is easy.
2026-08-23
Problem zones at a glance
- Hollywood Boulevard & the Walk of Fame High Costumed characters demanding photo fees, CD/mixtape sellers, and star-map/tour touts — the nuisance capital.
- Rental cars (trailheads, beaches, street) High Smash-and-grab break-ins of parked cars are LA's signature property crime — never leave anything visible.
- Venice Beach & boardwalk Moderate Aggressive vendors, 'free' CD and 'donation' hustles, and petty theft of unattended items — bring little.
- Downtown, Skid Row & some transit Moderate Some areas and Metro lines warrant awareness, especially after dark — know where you are, ride rather than wander.
- Ticket & tour touts (Universal, tapings) Moderate Marked-up or invalid 'tickets' and 'studio tours' sold on the street — buy from official sources only.
The short version
Los Angeles is safe in the areas tourists actually visit — Hollywood, Santa Monica, the beaches, Beverly Hills, the theme parks — and its “scams” are mostly Hollywood Boulevard nuisances (costumed-character photo fees, CD sellers, star-map touts) plus one real property risk: rental-car break-ins. LA is huge and car-centric, so safety is partly about which areas and which streets after dark. Know the character fee, keep your car empty, skip a few rough spots, and the city is easy and rewarding.
The scripts you’ll actually meet
- The costumed-character & CD fee. Walk-of-Fame characters and CD sellers offering “free” photos or “gifts,” then demanding cash, sometimes aggressively. Agree a tip first or don’t engage; don’t accept anything handed to you.
- Rental-car break-ins. LA’s signature property crime — smash-and-grab of parked cars. Never leave anything visible. [More below.]
- Star-map, tour & ticket touts. Marked-up or invalid “studio tours,” maps, and tickets on the street. Buy from official sources. The ticket rules →
- Venice Beach hustles. Aggressive vendors, “free” CDs and “donation” asks, and petty theft of unattended items. Bring little.
- Area & transit awareness. Some areas (parts of downtown/Skid Row) and Metro lines warrant caution, especially after dark — know where you are, ride rather than wander.
Getting around
Most visitors drive or use Uber/Lyft (the easy default in LA’s sprawl). If you rent a car — often the practical choice — the golden rule is keep it empty: never leave anything visible, as smash-and-grab is the city’s main property crime. Park in attended lots where possible, and don’t load valuables into the trunk in public. The Metro rail/bus is useful on some corridors and cheap, but ride with normal urban awareness, especially late. Whatever you use, avoid a few rougher areas and prefer a rideshare over walking unfamiliar streets after dark.
What it looks like
LA’s tells split in two: the Hollywood Boulevard nuisance (a costumed character or CD seller offering something “free” that isn’t, a street “studio tour” tout) and the real one — valuables visible in a parked car (the smash-and-grab target). The first wants you to engage; the second wants your inattention. Neither survives an empty car and a walking “no.”
Do this instead
On Hollywood Boulevard, don’t accept anything handed to you and agree any photo tip out loud first; keep your rental car empty with nothing visible; buy tickets and tours only from official sources; bring little to Venice Beach; and know which areas and streets to skip after dark, riding rather than wandering. That covers LA’s whole risk list, in a city that’s otherwise easy for visitors.
Warning signs, in general
- Anything “free” on Hollywood Boulevard or Venice Beach — a photo, a CD — comes with a demand.
- Anything visible in a parked car is the smash-and-grab target — take it with you.
- A “studio tour” or ticket sold on the street is marked-up or invalid — buy official.
If something happens
- Emergency: dial 911. LA has a heavy police presence in tourist areas.
- Pressured for a photo/CD payment: you owe nothing you didn’t agree to — hand back anything given, decline firmly, and walk toward the crowds; a nearby officer ends aggressive demands.
- Car break-in: don’t chase; report to police (needed for the rental/insurance claim) with the location and time.
- Theft: freeze cards, then file a police report for insurance. The full first-hour checklist →
Quick answers
Is Los Angeles safe for tourists?
Yes, in the areas tourists visit — Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, the beaches, and the theme parks are heavily visited and safe with normal awareness. LA is spread out and car-centric, so 'safety' is partly about which areas and which streets, especially after dark. The scams are mostly Hollywood Boulevard nuisances plus one real property crime: rental-car break-ins. Know a few areas to skip, keep your car empty, and the city is easy.
Do I have to pay the costumed characters on Hollywood Boulevard?
No. The costumed characters (superheroes, movie figures) and the painted performers on the Walk of Fame offer photos as if free, then demand a tip — sometimes aggressively — after the picture. You owe nothing you didn't agree to. If you want a photo, agree a small tip out loud first; if not, don't engage, and don't hand your phone or child to a character. The CD/mixtape sellers who press a 'gift' CD on you then demand cash run the same trick — don't accept anything handed to you.
How bad are car break-ins in Los Angeles?
Common enough to be the one property crime to plan around — smash-and-grab of parked rental cars at trailheads, beach lots, and city streets. Never leave anything visible in the car (take valuables with you, leave nothing in the trunk that you loaded in public, and don't leave bags on the seats even briefly). It's opportunistic; keep the car empty and it's a non-issue. This matters more than any street scam in car-dependent LA.
How do I get around LA, and is the Metro safe?
Most visitors drive or use Uber/Lyft, which are the easy default given LA's sprawl. The Metro rail and bus network is useful on some corridors and cheap, but ride with normal urban awareness, especially late at night and on certain lines. Whatever you use, avoid a few rougher areas (parts of downtown/Skid Row), know where you're headed, and prefer a rideshare over wandering unfamiliar streets after dark.