Theft

[miniand]

I bought a personal attack alarm (then forgot to take it lol) basically if you pull a lanyard and metal pin comes out it sets off an alarm. They can be fixed to each zip on the tent, then if someone opens the zip it will set the alarm off and create a scene that thieves don't want.

[ollyrag]

I've considered rigging a car battery to the zip. Would like something more powerful but would probably need one of those "danger of death" signs. Without that I may be criminally liable

[Phil-itfc]

I woke up in 09 to find someone going through my things at the foot of my tent, I threw a can of beer at him, which narrowly missed his head.

I found the beer outside the next morning too!

[scaryclaireyfairy]

if it weren't for human rights laws etc, public stocks would be an excellent idea. with a load of discarded food (i'm thinking about that photo with all the dumped salad at the side of a food stall) for passers-by to pelt them with.

never had anything nicked thus far. *bangs on wooden coffee table* i know from experience at messy parties my first reaction on being startled awake, no matter what my nick, is to roar and swear aggressively so anything i value is on me at all times and i rely on my natural morning charm to get me out of a sticky situ. i apologise in advance if any of you are the poor souls who trip over my guy lines (how people manage it when they're as tight to the tent as possible, i dunno) when i'm asleep. i don't mean it, i can't help it, you're probably lovely.

i say it every year but i mean it this year now that dairy has a lock up - half my cash and booze is going in there til friday.

[Inhaler]

it's just a shame you can't camp in a lock up tent, all problems solved.

[essex_jim]

Obviously keep everything you need on you like cash, phone etc.. throughout the day. At night I always put all my stuff in a few plastic bags then shove it actually UNDER my tent at the point where my head rests on the pillow.

No fuckers going to check there, sounds risky but it's almost foolproof!

[Becoming a veteran]

Think I've been pretty lucky with theft and all the festivals I've been to. I'm sure there's probably been the odd thing gone missing maybe a chair and tents open when we've got back. Usually sure it was shut but could quite easily of left without doing it.

The only significant time was at Reading'99 I think. 2 mates had passed out, outside a while after awakening one of them noticed their wristband wasn't on their wrist, leading us all to check our wrists and the other lad was also wristbandless. The same night my festival stereo went missing, it wasn't worth much so didn't mind.

[Guest]

I'm an extremely light sleeper and I have a problem with shouting (I mean really fucking bellowing) in my sleep anyway, anybody even so much as opens my bedroom door I'm bolt upright and yelling non-verbal aggressive sounds. It used to really disturb my parents when I was young, I went to see doctors and everything, didn't help. Once after passing out at a house party at the age of 15 or so, my friend advanced on me with a pen to draw a penis on my face or something similarly hilarious, the second he touched me I launched an extremely impressive spit-ball at him and attempted a flying headbutt. Rob from my tent at your peril.

[smudger]

One year I was woken up by someone who claimed to have mistaken my tent for their own. Sadly by the time I'd realised they were one of those mysterious scumbags who use festivals to thieve, he'd long gone.

The next day we realised he must have turned over my mates tent also. On the one hand he's left empty handed, on the other he'd up ended my mates washing up bowl looking for valuables....... that's the same bowl his girlfriend had pissed in earlier................all over my mates clothes.

Nice.

[Mr.Tease]

I bought a personal attack alarm (then forgot to take it lol) basically if you pull a lanyard and metal pin comes out it sets off an alarm. They can be fixed to each zip on the tent, then if someone opens the zip it will set the alarm off and create a scene that thieves don't want.

[glasto virgin]

anyone opens my tent there getting chinned hard simple

[little_jim]

The little tea leaves get their comeuppance don't you worry! A few years back over at Reading Festival a few lads near us had their booze nicked! Some of which were those big old bottles of cider you can get! One of the bottles was full of pee, would of loved to of seen the toe rags face when he took a swig of it!

[airwaves]

Take a little bit of string with you.

When you are going to bed, tie the 2 zips fasteners on the inside of your entrance (oohhh matron) together. If someone tries to unzip your tent from the outside, one fastener follows the other one round and the door can't be opened.

[nick160460]

Mouse traps work a treat. Hubby puts a few down after getting robbed at reading one year. Stopped two other bastards trying, and gives the camp sometime to watch as a robber jumps around in pain.

[miniand]

It sounds fine in theory, but remember people will be sleeping- not sure how the field you're camping in will react to being woken up by this device! I know I get very annoyed by car alarms at night, even though I get why people have them. I'm not sure these are a good idea, overall...

[ShiftyGB]

EDIT: Just seen the above posts (posted this whilst on 3rd page)

Not sure if anyone has thought of this, however, like some people say - the string between the two zips (well have you thought about a Personal attack alarm aka Rape alarm?)

When I was back at Uni, a while ago now, the Police during Freshers week gave out these alarms... they are the same as this but in black: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Minder-Mini-Key-Ring-Personal-Attack-Rape-Alarm-140-Decibel-LOUD-/121119016275?pt=UK_Safety_Alarms&hash=item1c33418553

They are LOUD - You just pull the cord out and boom 140DB (Varies) is out! - Loud, but will wake anyone up (sh*t when it's your friend trying to get in lol).

Simple though and very effective. (They do hurt your ears though).

Edited June 17, 2013 by ShiftyGB