81 replies to this topic

[Jonny Hobbs]

Okay, so having never been to Glasto before and this year being my first, i dont know how much truth is in some of the stories i have been hearing.

Apparently, there is no need to take any more than one set of clothes to Glasto, as any more will be stolen from your tent. This sounds stupid, but is there actually any truth in this?

Feel free to respond and post any other horror stories you have been told over the years and whether there is in fact, any truth to them.

[sven mk 2]

I once had my money and phone stolen from my tent when I was sleeping, the kindly thief did leave me my bank cards so I could get some more funds, my own fault for not putting my valuables in my sleeping bag with me.  T in the Park has been the only place where my tent has been well and truly gutted while I wasn't there.

Edited by sven mk 2, 19 May 2010 - 03:33 PM.

[thelizardking]

At Glastonbury one year, I met a boy that could see dead people, then on the Sunday, I realised I was dead.

[givememoney]

Jonny Hobbs, on May 19 2010, 03:29 PM, said:

Okay, so having never been to Glasto before and this year being my first, i dont know how much truth is in some of the stories i have been hearing.

Apparently, there is no need to take any more than one set of clothes to Glasto, as any more will be stolen from your tent. This sounds stupid, but is there actually any truth in this?

Feel free to respond and post any other horror stories you have been told over the years and whether there is in fact, any truth to them.

First time last year, no worry's at all. Relax, think traffic the thing to consider!
Left beer, food, clothing and all there.

[jameshunt]

Jonny Hobbs, on May 19 2010, 04:29 PM, said:

Okay, so having never been to Glasto before and this year being my first, i dont know how much truth is in some of the stories i have been hearing.

Apparently, there is no need to take any more than one set of clothes to Glasto, as any more will be stolen from your tent. This sounds stupid, but is there actually any truth in this?

Feel free to respond and post any other horror stories you have been told over the years and whether there is in fact, any truth to them.

Thefts from tents do happen, however this doesn't happen to everyone!

Don't leave valuables in your tent.  There are fully staffed 24 hour lockups available all over the site.  Use them and you'll be fine.

Do take more than one set of clothes.  If it rains, you'll be glad of a dry pair of jeans etc. and it can get hot during the day and very cold at night.  Also, your travelling companions might be grateful if you have more than one pair of underwear for the whole festival...

[budvar]

Can't say I've ever had anything stolen from my tent in the five Glastos I've attended. That said I doubt anyone would want my clothes!

That's not to say thefts don't happen, of course they do as with everywhere else. The trick is to be sensible with what you take and how you store it.

The horror story that always goes around about someone having fallen into a longdrop. Alas it's sort of true (i.e. it happened at Leeds Festival last year:

http://news.sky.com/...200908415372148

Edited by budvar, 19 May 2010 - 03:38 PM.

[Funkyfairy!]

Don;t leave anything valuable in your tent - we were fine and had nothing stolen. Not sure what the figure for crime were last year but I would not think they are high. Don;t panic - there are loads of Glastonbury rumours and very few of the bad ones are true

Last year was my first year and my Mum looked at the webcam and texted me to say' everyone looks nice and clean ...' - she was very surprised - it made me giggle !!

[abu hamster]

I lost my fake leg whilst very unhinged

[paulomas]

this is my 3rd year and i havent had any problems with anything being stolen from my tent in the past. i've also been to reading for the last 7 years and never had anything stolen and/or set on fire. its all about keeping the most valuable stuff on you and hiding anything else around your tent. make friends with neighbours around you and dont camp near footpaths, thats my only advice. i've probably been lucky above anything else though..

Edited by paulomas, 19 May 2010 - 03:43 PM.

[shiveringsky]

To be honest I think most horror is self-inflicted at Glastonbury.  

You could be very unlucky and have something bad like this happen to you, but as someone who nearly got shot two weeks ago just sitting outside a pub on a busy main road, let me tell you: Bad things can happen anytime, anywhere and are generally completely random events.

You can take precautions as suggested, like sticking valuables in the lock-up but try not to worry too much about it. You're more likely to get soaked through than robbed!  

[paulomas]

poo girl hahaha so immature but so effective

[Rolf Harris]

2008 was the only year I have ever seen anyone rifling tents, they were young lads 13-16ish. Looked like a right bunch of skegs, thay were all just laughing when the police had them questioning / searcing them. Must have been to young to prosecute.This was in the field next to the mandella bar, where my moron mate decided to pitch my tent, as he went down on the wednesday an i couldn't get there that year till the friday.

This probably happened as no id was needed for ticket and you could just buy them up to the start of the festival.

Had a mate who had a massive tent / marque they got out of the loot back in 99. They were near the dance tent (tent not area back then) and they got jumped by a gang in the tent slashed the sides open and taxed them for their money / drugs etc. This was pre super duper fence though.

Obvious thing to do is can somewhere quiet away from the paths and get to know the neighbours.

somebody isn't going to randomly walk into a field and pick your tent out of 5000 and steal your socks.

keep your money on you and you'll be fine.

[MiffJacobs]

I had my wellies stolen last year - just BEFORE it rained!  

Oddly enough on the Sunday I was talking to a girl camped near me, told her what had happened and she confessed that it was her.  She gave me my wellies back and two cans of stella by way of an apology.  I was happy because the Stella took my mind off the trench foot.

[budvar]

MiffJacobs, on May 19 2010, 04:52 PM, said:

I had my wellies stolen last year - just BEFORE it rained!  

Oddly enough on the Sunday I was talking to a girl camped near me, told her what had happened and she confessed that it was her.  She gave me my wellies back and two cans of stella by way of an apology.  I was happy because the Stella took my mind off the trench foot.

Amazing! Did she say why? And what was your response?

Did you suspect that you recognised them?!

[thenorthernmonkey]

Last year on the thursday me and my cousin spent the day sampling cider and Lager stopped about 3am in the morning woke up to find all our change on floor of tent didn't think anything about till the people in next tent asked if we owned a brown wallet which was my cousin's cos their was one just outside our tent We had both been robbed  while we were sleeping about £500 between us and my camera but worse of all my torch I mean how low can you go ?  But I put my wallet in my fleece which I had rolled up for my pillow Both wallets had been emptied but cards had been left thank you Mr Thief They had stolen an ounce of weed from the tent next to us they were not happy and some money and tent in front of us got robbed  
But did not stop us having  agreat time and claimed it all back on my travel insurance

[jameshunt]

Other Glastonbury horror stories.  Coldplay have headlined in the past and are rumoured again for 2011.  Oasis headlined and were shite.  U2 are headlining this year.

[Spindles]

I have had horror stories I've been a star in in years gone by, all pre-super fence.

Last year was first year back after a long absence, and first since super-fence, I felt extremely secure and unlike times gone by there were no moments of scariness

[MrHew]

This'll be my 13th Glastonbury and I've only had stuff nicked once and that was when I was pissed and left my wallet outside the tent. Unsuprisingly, when I woke up the wallet was empty.

[Spindles]

MrHew, on May 19 2010, 05:17 PM, said:

This'll be my 13th Glastonbury and I've only had stuff nicked once and that was when I was pissed and left my wallet outside the tent. Unsuprisingly, when I woke up the wallet was empty.

For the recipient there that wasn't stealing so much as finding

In '99 my sister kept her toothbrush and stuff in a camera case, Thurs night the camera case went.  Always wondered how the pictures came out

In that case, she had it down by the zip and someone had clearly stuck a hand in, had a feel round, found something camera/purse/wallet shaped and done one.

I use the following strategy:
My tent is a shit hole.

Good luck finding anything in there, it's just clothes...there might be some money/doobage/spare phone in a pair of socks or something somewhere, but it's going to take a while to find it.  I've never been robbed but I've had lots of confused people open the wrong tent   at least that's their excuse.

[Macca3031]

7th Glasto coming up, never had anything stolen except maybe a camping chair I've left out. Be sensible, zip up your tent, sleep with wallet in your pocket or at the bottom of your sleeping bag and have your head near he entrance. If you have beers in your tent, take them out of the crate and spread them around, at least then they'll have more trouble nicking them all   . I generally leave my tent in a state with stuff stewn about the place to deter thieves and always carry my money, phone and drugs about my person. Don't leave camping chairs around outside your tent at night, they'll be theived.

Edited by Macca3031, 19 May 2010 - 04:25 PM.