Oasis Fans Warned Of Ricoh Arena Pickpockets
By
Stop Crying Your Heart Out
on
July 07, 2009
Revellers at tonight’s Oasis gig at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry are being reminded to be on their guard against pickpockets.
With thousands of music fans due to descend on the concert venue, officers from Stoney Stanton Road police station are encouraging members of the public to keep their belongings safe and out of the reach of opportunist thieves.
Officers will be handing out thousands of postcards with crime prevention messages at the event and they will also be on hand with UV pens to mark people’s property with their postcode.
Police will also be using Bluetooth technology to pass on advice to concert-goers via their mobile phones on how to avoid becoming the victim of pickpockets.
The Telegraph revealed in May how thieves targeted the pockets of fans at The Specials’ sell-out concert at the Ricoh Arena in May.
Wallets, purses and mobile phones were snatched during the Coventry group’s homecoming gig, which was attended by thousands of 2-Tone fans.
Police received reports of 75 people who had been hit by pickpockets but police believe the tally may have been higher because some thefts may have been overlooked, as fans assumed their belongings had simply fallen out of their pockets.
Among the tips being offered by police are to keep cash secure and out of sight, keep your purse in your handbag, which should be closed and with the opening towards your body, never carry large amounts of cash and spread your possessions about – for example, keep your mobile phone separate from your purse and your keys separate from your credit card.
Police are also reminding people attending the Oasis concert that all areas around the arena are subject to a Designated Public Places Order, where it is an offence to drink alcohol after being required by a police officer not to do so.
The police have the power to confiscate alcohol and any opened or sealed containers and if an individual fails to comply with the request, they could be arrested.
Source: www.coventrytelegraph.net
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