Thieving Bastards at the Big Chill
It has come to our attention that a number of people had a less than chilled experience at this years Big Chill shindig. This is confirmed on the Big Chill site where they acknowledge 156 reported thefts, mainly from tents.
Our roving, festival going reporter told us that the figure was probably higher than this, and it doesn’t actually reflect the value of the money and other items that were stolen. We’ve heard of one individual who had £800 nicked from their tent and another who had £350, a camera and a nice pair of Nike trainers pinched.
Crime at festivals is nothing new, just look at all the drug dealing! But thieving on this scale is a worrying development. Festival goers are, after all, a soft touch. The big chill attracts people with a few bob in their pockets, taking time out from their high powered jobs to indulge themselves in some hedonistic revelry for a few days. To record the event they take along their fancy cameras and they’ll have their new mobile phones, some nice posing clobber and a big wad of cash to pay the drug dealers for the weekend’s medication. It’s therefore not surprising that some organised criminals are targeting these gatherings.
What is more worrying are the reports that we have received regarding the role that certain security staff played in the burglaries that were carried out this year. We have received uncorroborated reports that some security staff were, in fact, briefing the criminal gangs regarding which fields of tents they should target. We were not particularly surprised by this as we have several contacts who work in the security industry who are all steroid-noshing bad boys who will do almost anything for a few bob. That’s not to say that everyone working in security is open to corruption or engaged in illegal activity. Like any profession there are bound to be a few people who don’t play by the rules, and when the compensation for a little information is sufficiently high anybody would be tempted.
But what can the average festival goer do to protect themselves? Out top tips are:
- Don’t take anything with you that you would hate to lose because even if you don’t get it nicked you’ll probably leave it somewhere when you are spannered;
- Challenge anybody who doesn’t have the required wristband or ID. Don’t worry about making a noise or a fuss, shout at them if necessary;
- Make sure you know what the security guards are actually wearing and what their IDs look like;
- Make use of any on-site security facilities for those expensive items you just couldn’t leave at home;
- Take as little cash with you as possible and make use of on-site cash dispensing facilities;
- Stash your cash down your drawers. You’d have to be seriously out of it not to notice someone groping around your genitals looking for your wonga;
- Find out what security measures are in place before you go along and make sure you are happy with them. If you are not then say so.
- Stay at home.
If you’d like to read some varied reports regarding this years Big Chill I can recommend this thread: Festival Forum: The Big Chill.
