Already this summer there has been a large number of thefts at several festivals including Wychwood, Rockness, Download and Glastonbury.

This may very well be your 1st festival or even your 101st, but thefts from tents are on the increase in 2008 and I feel that some helpful advice would hopefully help prevent anything happening to your possessions at the festival and you can enjoy yourself without being another crime statistic!

Most of these thefts are run by organised gangs, who buy tickets and pitch up like any other festival goers and blend into the crowd making it hard for them to stand out. They may even be-friend you and find out what bands etc you plan to go to at night knowing fine well that you will be out and about that evening and leaving your camp.

Most of the crimes reported this year are occurring on the first night, when most people tend to go overboard a little and you also have more cash on you that night.

This year they seem to be going mainly for cash and then dumping the contents minus any cash nearby due to the fact if they get caught, all they have on them is some money which is impossible to prove it was stolen.

Below are my 10 handy tips to help protect your possessions

• Car Park - please do not leave any valuables on show in your car. Empty anything out that can be seen by a passing thief, leave the glove box open and parcel shelf out.

• If you are at a festival with a cash machine, don't take out all your money for the weekend, it may mean you need to queue for your money, but at least you won't be carrying much cash.

• If the festival has lockers available, then use them to store your valuables in at all times.

• Tactics they are using for getting into tents vary, sometimes they will just enter your tent porch area and then unzip the sleeping compartment, if they startle anyone they just claim they are in the wrong tent and run off.

• More recently, tents have been slashed open at one end and they just reach inside and grab what they can, usually jeans or a bag that's handy.

• Do not leave anything of value lying about in your tent, if you have a camera, wallet, phone etc then use a money belt or sleep with shorts with pockets in.

• Try not to put your valuables at the bottom of your sleeping bag; there have been some incidents this year where they have slit open sleeping bags.

• Don't keep all your valuables in one place, if you do have cash, phone etc then split this up and hide it in separate places, meaning if you do get anything stolen there is less chance they will get everything.

• When out in the venue during the day, keep your bag close at hand and your wallet in your front pocket as several pickpockets work these events too.
  
• Make friends with your neighbours, they are your extra eyes and ears for the weekend.

Please do not take anything you can't afford to loose and have a safe and secure festival

you seem to know a lot about thieving at festivals paul, i hope this isnt just a cunning plan (only kidding mate),,

keep yer cash and other valuables on yersell and yeel be alrite,,

"They may even be-friend you and find out what bands etc you plan to go to at night "

&

Now I'm worrying my neighbours will think I'm a tent-thief when i start being friendly!! LoL

Only Joking Paul, very helpfull advice.

*BUMP*

As I feel it's useful