Last Minute warning about Tent thefts !

[surfgurl]

The lock ups are brilliant and very easy to use. They are manned by people from a charity, usually a regional CND group. It's a big marquee filled with shelves so your stuff is kept off the ground. I've never spent more than five minutes checking in stuff or taking it out. They fill out a little form with your name, address and description of item. You get a ticket back, another ticket is attached to your stuff and the other is in their receipt book.

As someone said take a photo of your ticket in case you lose it. Or you can mark your bag with surname and postcode. That way if you lose your ticket you can always prove it is yours by giving a description of the item and saying where you wrote your details on it, what they are etc. Also if it is marked with name and postcode and you forget to reclaim your bag by the Monday night you have a greater chance of getting it back when you get home.

The lockups are free to use, but they have a donation tin or give them a pack of biscuits or something.

They normally have a site map and can give you basic directions if lost, they also have loo roll and sometimes suncream too.

I normally check in a bag with a spare set of clothes, wellies if I am not wearing them and my money, festy ticket stub, id, car keys etc. That way if my tent leaks I have a dry set of clothes etc. Last thing at night I go back and get my bag and put in any leftover money from the day, phone, camera etc and re-check in my bag.

There is no limit to the number of items you check in, you just fill out another form for each one.

[llcoolphil]

"Forty-one thefts from tents have also been reported to police, while 160 arrests have been made, the "vast majority" of which are said to be drug-related."

forty one out of 180,000 people ain't too bad. I'd say. Just hope I'm not next on the list

Edited June 22, 2010 by llcoolphil

[Gnomicide]

If you reckon on 100,000 tents, that makes it a 0.041% chance of getting your tent robbed. You'd be better using the lock ups and worrying about an eagle swooping down and taking your eye out.

[surfgurl]

And that is why I use the lockups and wear an eye patch

[airwaves]

Been going every year since '98 and last year was the first we have had a robbery.

About a dozen tents in a group just a little way up from in Pennards. Around 7 or 8 of our group's tents were entered. Nothing stolen from mine - appropriate measures had been taken - but my son had cash stolen. They didn't bother with cards or anything else.

Have decided that Pennards has got a bit too leary and are camping elsewhere this year.

Take care everybody, and enjoy.

[Edi M]

A couple of years ago I invested in a cotton bumbag and have never looked back

I put it on as we leave the house on wednesday and don't take it off until I get home on Monday. Money,phone and lockup ticket goes in the bumbag. Additional Money,travelcard, house keys and passport (had to take it as ID one year) in the lockup.

Hooray for bumbags.

[Jackmypie]

Been going every year since '98 and last year was the first we have had a robbery.

About a dozen tents in a group just a little way up from in Pennards. Around 7 or 8 of our group's tents were entered. Nothing stolen from mine - appropriate measures had been taken - but my son had cash stolen. They didn't bother with cards or anything else.

Have decided that Pennards has got a bit too leary and are camping elsewhere this year.

Take care everybody, and enjoy.

[Peetle]

+1 for bumbags. I also loop the waist strap around one of the belt loops on my shorts to prevent anyone unclipping it and disappearing without me noticing.

Been to several fests and never had anything stolen (famous last words) - always have everything of any value with me and sleep with it at my chest, not my feet, in my bag.

One thing that occurs to me - the time to rob tents is at the start when people don't know their neighbours and have the most money. Also, when they're away from their tents and will be for some time, such as when everyone's watching the football....

[airwaves]

How exactly did they steal it?

Did they just walk into your tent while you were sleeping?

Or did they wait till u left the tent? :S

[Lucanesque]

I now fasten down my tent zips with tent pegs from the inside.

[Thowky]

One thing that occurs to me - the time to rob tents is at the start when people don't know their neighbours and have the most money. Also, when they're away from their tents and will be for some time, such as when everyone's watching the football....

[GingerRock]

I thought about doing that, but wouldn't it just encourage someone to slash the tent?

[GingerRock]

How exactly did they steal it?

Did they just walk into your tent while you were sleeping?

Or did they wait till u left the tent? :S

[rexclark]

I never have anything of value on me. But if any f**ker tried to get in my tent he wouldn't get back out. I'd either batter him or scream like a girl.

[Jackmypie]

What happens if he has a knife. Ahh this seems pretty common for people tents to get raided. First time camping on site so a bit nervous!

[rachbon]

i keep all my money, phone, camera etc on me. just don't leave anything valuable in your tent, it's quite simple.

if you have a bag with money and phone etc in it, use your bag as a pillow with a jumper over it when you're sleeping, then if anyone does come in your tent, you'll notice if they try and get anyhting out your bag, since your head is on it..

if anyone comes in my tent they'll get battered with a mallett.

Edited June 22, 2010 by _rachelbon

[LusciousLucy]

Bells...hmm...thats a good idea.

Or a trip wire hazard thang with a string of cans in your entrance maybe...just remember how to take it down when you need to get out yourself!

OR a whole load of stakes with the pointy ends up in the entrance to your tent???

And a moat.

With sharks.

And a personal security guard up a tower.

Ok I'll stop now, I'm getting carried away aren't I?

[Jackmypie]

Bells...hmm...thats a good idea.

Or a trip wire hazard thang with a string of cans in your entrance maybe...just remember how to take it down when you need to get out yourself!

OR a whole load of stakes with the pointy ends up in the entrance to your tent???

And a moat.

With sharks.

And a personal security guard up a tower.

Ok I'll stop now, I'm getting carried away aren't I?

[Lucanesque]

And a personal security guard up a tower.

[APC]

What happens if he has a knife. Ahh this seems pretty common for people tents to get raided. First time camping on site so a bit nervous!