Festival season is upon us. Millions of revellers up and down the UK will once again shun showers and electricity for a weekend of hedonistic fun and music. But the fun can turn sour quicker than you can say “muddy wellies” if you are a victim of theft or other common “festival crimes”.
We’ve pulled together a go-to guide filled with tips and tricks to keep you and your possessions safe this summer... and what to do it in the case of a crime.
Avoid tent locks
Your nylon makeshift home for the weekend may be excellent at keeping out rain, but a thief can find their way in pretty easily. Locking your tent with a padlock screams “I have valuable stuff in here and I don’t want you to have it”. Leave the padlock at home. Which brings us to the next tip…
Don’t bring anything you wouldn’t want to lose/break
Those £200 sunglasses may be great for a festival selfie, but do you really want to spend your weekend worrying about them?
Use the lockups
Some festivals have “property lockups” that are great for keeping your stuff in - from money and bank cards to trailers and phones. Some run on donations, others cost a pretty penny, but if you want to avoid the worry it is a worthwhile cost in the long run.
Dig a hole
Some things you can’t avoid taking, even if you likely won’t need them for the festival (keys, emergency bank card etc.) Dig a small hole beneath your tent and put your belongings in a plastic Tupperware box (or similar). Safe and secure!
Create a meeting point
Nobody wants to be lost at a festival – plus there’s more chance of being a victim of a crime if you are alone – so choose a meeting point which your group of friends can meet at should you get separated. Phone signals can be patchy at best at most festivals, so it’s always best to go the old fashioned way!
Check insurance before you leave
Whether it’s home insurance or mobile phone insurance, be sure to check your policy covers theft or outside your home. How about accidental damage or loss? A quick phone call can put your mind at ease, and ensure you are properly covered.
If you find yourself the victim of a crime…
Remain calm and deal with the situation in steps. Ensure your friends have not got your possessions in the case of theft. Head to lost property and check there. If your goods still haven’t shown up, head to the police (they have temporary stations at all festivals, and police officers are regularly patrol the sites). Retain your crime number for when you get home as you’ll need this for insurance purposes.
If you need medical attention or support of any kind, remember the welfare tents. They are equipped with non-judgemental experts and medical staff that are there to help you through a tough time.
We hope you found this helpful. Whilst it is important to be careful, it’s also important to remember that criminals are in the minority at festivals, so enjoy yourself!
