Scumbags at Leeds

[Dropkick Murphy]

This has got to be the worst year yet for thefts etc. Every morning I always over heard people talking about how they had been robbed during the night.

All our tents had been ransacked in blue, luckily we all keep our stuff in the bottom of out sleeping bags, but beer was nicked, friends woke up with they tents open and clothes strewn over our area, obviously scallies looking for money.

To top it off, my friend's girlfriend was on her way back from the toilet and some pikey punched her in the face and tried to nick a bag, this was on the Thursday and sported a black eye all festival. It was only about 11pm too, so the paths around blue were busy.

On the Saturday night we were told by securtiy that tents had been marked with glow marker, ribbons or condoms to be robbed later.

What on earth is going on?! Are these scumbags buying tickets or sneaking in the campsite somewhere?

Edited August 31, 2009 by Dropkick Murphy

[FeeFie]

This has got to be the worst year yet for thefts etc. Every morning I always over heard people talking about how they had been robbed during the night.

All our tents had been ransacked in blue, luckily we all keep our stuff in the bottom of out sleeping bags, but beer was nicked, friends woke up with they tents open and clothes strewn over our area, obviously scallies looking for money.

To top it off, my friend's girlfriend was on her way back from the toilet and some pikey punched her in the face and tried to nick a bag, this was on the Thursday and sported a black eye all festival. It was only about 11pm too, so the paths around blue were busy.

On the Saturday night we were told by securtiy that tents had been marked with glow marker, ribbons or condoms to be robbed later.

What on earth is going on?! Are these scumbags buying tickets or sneaking in the campsite somewhere?

Edited August 31, 2009 by FeeFie

[VCK]

Which campsite are you guys talking about? Orange seemed to be alright where we were, mind you we were pretty close to the entrance where security was...

[markeee]

sorry to hear all this

I guess these types are buying a ticket then figuring they can rob enough tents to have made the ticket cost not matter

makes me sick..

punched in the face like wtf...these days you don't have to even do anything to get trouble!

I guess perhaps it's not safe for girls to wander around the campsite on their own at any time -

there's one big problem , apparently if caught all that happens is they get kicked out..and can coime back next year..there needs to be some kind of blacklist, to TRY and stop people who have been cvaught buying tickets from the original official sellers.obviously you cant stop them getting them off others, but it would at least be a step in the right direction imo

Edited August 31, 2009 by markeee

[Dropkick Murphy]

We were camped in blue.

People shouldn't be fearful of going to Leeds Festival, but these days, they need to be.

[Englishdragon]

sorry to hear all this

I guess these types are buying a ticket then figuring they can rob enough tents to have made the ticket cost not matter

makes me sick..

punched in the face like wtf...these days you don't have to even do anything to get trouble!

I guess perhaps it's not safe for girls to wander around the campsite on their own at any time -

there's one big problem , apparently if caught all that happens is they get kicked out..and can coime back next year..there needs to be some kind of blacklist, to TRY and stop people who have been cvaught buying tickets from the original official sellers.obviously you cant stop them getting them off others, but it would at least be a step in the right direction imo

[markeee]

FR have started to do a blacklist that anybody thrown out will now have bans from any festival FR is associated with (which apparently includes Glastonbury) but I carnt see how it works unless next year its 1 ticket per person like Glasto. If your banned from a festival you can simply get a ticket off a friend, highly unlikely anybody is going to notice you.

Something needs to be done about the Lawless site they call Leeds Festival

[moshing]

The problem is that when security come down on people and try and clamp down people complain about the being too heavy handed (justified in some cases) but when they don't do anything they are critised for that as well. I don't know what the solution is other than harsh consequences and a very present set of security.

[markeee]

The problem is that when security come down on people and try and clamp down people complain about the being too heavy handed (justified in some cases) but when they don't do anything they are critised for that as well. I don't know what the solution is other than harsh consequences and a very present set of security.

[woody182]

yep, it's a real tricky one

i mean we want security to come down harsh on the ones that ruin it for everyone else, but obviously we don't want gthem being heavy handed where it's not called for

but are they heavy handed when it isnt called for ? I haven't heard any stories of this tbh

[moshing]

Stuart security, can't remember what year it was, but the bullying bastards caused a lot more trouble than they prevented being extremely heavy handed.

[vikinggriff]

i camped in blue this year and this was the first time i had ever known major trouble to start in the early afternoon on sunday, a large bunch of lads claiming to be the "red army" trashing tents, and throwing full cans of beer/bottles/stones and whatever else came to hand.

after seeing this my group decided to pack up and not bother staying sunday night. I think we made the right decision as after getting back from the car the medical people where having to put someone in blue camp on a strecher so i assume he was hurt in the trouble

[Mr_Grump]

I live about 20 miles from Bramham Park and would never ever consider camping (or even attending) at the Leeds festival for this very reason - its too close to a major conurbation and therefore too close to the scum who attend with the sole purpose of robbing.

Give me Glastonbury any day!

[winnets99]

my mate had £200 nicked from his tent in red

the guys next to us in orange had £100 robbed from one tent

I woke up one night to find someone rummaging at the front of my tent, startled he claimed to have the wrong tent and was looking for rizla's. Equally startled I failed to boot him in the face before he had scarpered!

This was my first and last Leeds! Glastonbury again next year!

[k1n60fthew0rld]

yep, it's a real tricky one

i mean we want security to come down harsh on the ones that ruin it for everyone else, but obviously we don't want gthem being heavy handed where it's not called for

but are they heavy handed when it isnt called for ? I haven't heard any stories of this tbh

Edited September 1, 2009 by k1n60fthew0rld

[Trani on 10]

We didn't experience any problems whatsoever. No thefts or violence. There was a few big fires kicking around, and they were trying to burn/kick down the light telegraph poles, but that was a good 200/300 metres from us.

We camped in orange, near the funfair.

Really considering getting a campervan next year. You get a safe place to sleep/keep valuables, have a shower and a nice, clean toilet.

[RichieSpenno]

Camped in White and nothing happened. Few lads next to us talking about burning their tent Sunday night made me a bit paranoid for a couple of days but Monday morning their tent was there but they weren't

So only things that bothered me were that ^ camping near the relentless tent and the thought that I'd come back tomy tent from the arena to see it on fire or my money gone.

I know nothing actually happened but I'd much rather go Glastonbury again where I have the peace of mind that my stuff won't get nicked and where there's free lock up facilities

[tomdsjames]

These stories are the reason I camped in Green. we never had any trouble whatsoever. I think there were a few people in the campsite who got robbed but no one I knew had anything taken or met any trouble.

[sharkeybmelody]

i camped in blue valley near the leon osman tent and the rob jones tent.

i thought this year the security had it spot on. if a fire broke out they put it out, and the bigger bonfires on the red campside where quiet and placid with security around letting people put stuff on, it was chilled and relaxed.

i think orange was a bit naughty, but i didnt see much of that

there was a 'red army' on the sunday afternoon, security stood off, just watched people throwing stuff and ejected them.

i though security compared to previous years was definatly better. they even took time out to talk to us all, letting us know of tent thefts using markings (writing and condoms ect) which i thought was great.

[JennyMc]

It's such a shame that these morons are putting all the decent people off going to Leeds - I've been 9 in a row and will carry on as long as my friends do, but I don't doubt there'll be a time when it's just more dangerous than it is fun.

Although there didn't seem to be as much trouble in red as there has been previously we got several calls from a friend in Blue warning us of trouble advancing up the hill towards us. And Orange looked a right mess by Monday morning with poles/lights down everywhere. Why can't people just have a few drinks and pass out peacefully in their own tent????

I did chase off a few people who were doing a bad job of pretending to be lost - pulling your hood up round your face and refusing eye contact is a sure giveaway that you're looking to steal from tents.

[teabag]

this was my first year at leeds and after 5 years at t in the park i thought i knew what to expect. i have always camped near a main path at t so i can find my tent (no sense of direction) and have never had any bother. however camped in orange at leeds near the main path and every night we dreaded what we were going to find after returning from the arena. one night a guy fell through our tent and stepped on my back which is still giving me jip! people walked right through us as we sat having a drink and generally were just horrible people. the nicest people i met were the security staff who constantly asked if we were ok and even helped us replace our tent pegs after the 30th person tripped on our guy ropes.

At first we thought it was because of the english/scottish divide but now i really think it was because of a younger crowd. im only 21 but as many people have said they felt too old. the amount of high school leavers 09 hoodies being worn just proves this. However line up wise for me was so much better than t this year the bands may well draw me back!!

also if i have to hear another person shout butt scratchers or green army i will just lose it!!!!

Edited September 1, 2009 by teabag

[rexclark]

I was camped near the entrance to Blue and it was pretty quiet. I did get my flag stole from outside my tent but apart from tha I saw no trouble at all. We were also near a fire tower so it felt pretty safe.

[Chill]

Were a couple of thefts around us that we heard about but nothing happened with our campsite, on another note tho did any1 get busted for anything?

Think the people in the camp next to us got busted for weed which was strange as we were smoking all weekend everywhere we went and not exactly being discreet behind these guys. Also there was a tent being dismantalled by security near us was told by someone they got caught for stealing but dont know how true that was.

[cabstar]

Every time I went through the guest car park I was approached by some right dodgy looking characters, I mentioned it to security & police but they didn't seem interested. I did see security catch someone doing something illegal / dodgy & they did sort it out, but I was left with a fear that something might happen to my vehicle over the weekend, fortunately nothing did.

[rachbon]

i didn't experience any trouble or hear about anything happening. i was camped in blue straight across form the oxfam tent. there was a security tower right next to us so that'll be why nothing happened where we were camped. if i go back to leeds i'll definitely try to camp in that spot again. someone stole our flag which was tied to the front of our tent but that was all.

this was my first year at leeds and after 5 years at t in the park i thought i knew what to expect. i have always camped near a main path at t so i can find my tent (no sense of direction) and have never had any bother.

Edited September 1, 2009 by _rachelbon