Festival crime up

Published 27 Aug 2010 09:30

ALMOST 100 crimes have been reported so far at the Reading Festival and nine people arrested.

The figure includes 72 reports of thefts from tents and 18 drug offences.

Chief inspector Les Stone said: “The number of reported crimes is up slightly on this stage last year, but we believe that this is because a lot more people are reporting crimes in person on site.

“Last year lots of people waited until the end of the festival to report crimes.

“The number of thefts from tents is a concern and I would urge people to take great care with any valuables they bring on to the site. Sleep with them in your sleeping bag.

“The really positive news from my point of view is that so far we haven’t had any robberies at the festival, while this time last year there had been 11.”

Ch Insp Stone also urged festival goers to look out for the free lanyards, rope or chord to be worn around the neck or wrist, that are being handed out by officers on site and to use them to secure wallets and mobile phones.

He said: “The lanyards seem to be going down really well and people seem very keen to get one. They really are a good way of making sure that your purses, wallets and mobile phones are not lost or stolen.”

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 27 Aug 10

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