Now that summer is upon us, festival season is around the corner! With exciting dance parties, raves, and music festivals in tow, worrying about your valuables may be the last thing you want to think about. Getting your stuff stolen at festivals is a huge buzzkill, not to mention the hassle of replacing whatever was stolen.
Even if you leave expensive jewelry and cash at home, it is impossible to leave your keys behind. Fret not, we’ve got your back – in this article, we’ll give you five tips to secure your keys at a summer festival so that you can enjoy your evening without worrying about your items.
1. Find better storage for your keys
Thieves and pickpockets target crowded areas where people are usually distracted. Your keys are the last thing you want to worry about while in the midst of a concert. Leave your house’s keys securely inside your car, or even better, find keyless alternatives for your home.
While at the festival, find a locker to store your valuables. If you’re staying in a tent, stow your keys and wallet at the base of your sleeping bag while you sleep so that it is near-impossible for thieves to get to it.
While in your tent, don’t keep all your keys and valuables in one place – stow them in different areas around the tent (like your sleeping bag, the bottom of your backpack/suitcase, and even inside unused shoes). The more seemingly disorganised your storage system is, the less likely that you’ll lose all your valuables at once.
2. Use proper bags
While you might leave some keys in your car or locker, you may not be able to leave all your valuables in one place. If you have to carry things on your person, invest in appropriate bags. Fanny packs and bum bags are not only back in style but sensible to store valuables while at crowded venues. It is very difficult for thieves to steal things from bags when they are right in front of you, compared to backpacks with zippers behind you. Moreover, bags are essential to carry festival supplies like water, a quick snack, and tickets.
While getting backpacks, find theft-proof bags that have a zipper against your back, instead of at the top. This also makes it difficult for someone to slip the bag open and make away with your keys. Make sure that your bag is made of sturdy, tear-proof fabric. Using flimsy bags can be risky, as someone can slice through them and take your valuables.
3. Store valuables in inner pockets
When you arrange things inside your backpack or fanny pack, find the innermost pocket and keep your keys there. In fact, find bags that have more than one inner sleeve so that you can store multiple keys and valuables in each pocket.
Not only does this make your belongings more difficult to access from the outside, but it prevents thieves from getting all your stuff at once.
4. Don’t keep anything in your back pocket
Your back pockets are major targets for pickpockets and thieves, and rightfully so – you might not notice someone slipping something out of your pocket after innocently bumping into you.
When asked about safety at the St Kilda Summer Festival, St Kilda Locksmiths say, “The cardinal rule of summer festivals is to never leave anything in your back pocket. Even though some back pockets have zippers, it is very easy for someone to slide it open and slip something out. If you have to store something in your pocket, always opt for the front pocket.”
In addition, be very aware of your surroundings. Keep checking your pockets regularly, especially if you feel someone bumping into you harder than usual. Make sure all your zippers are closed.
5. Use a lanyard
When all fails, use a sturdy lanyard to keep track of your locker keys or phone. Although this keeps your keys in plain sight, thieves are less likely to target something that you can see and feel at all times.
The Bottom Line
Accounting for the safety of your valuables is an important part of planning your summer festival experience. Here’s a bonus tip – check in with the festival’s lost items policy and report stolen items immediately. On the off chance that you lose something, it helps to know where to go. Happy summering, and stay safe!
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