Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by jade~natasha on Mar 3, 2011 15:23:31 GMT -5
I personally never had anything stolen, that said, I feel it is important to tell you that last year was only my first year.
I have read in other threads, and know people personally, that have had stuff stolen, including whole coolers. It is always best to lock up anything you wouldn't want taken, including your coolers. You could get some kind of bike lock or something of that nature to attach your cooler to your ez up or tent to make it harder to steal. You could also do this to secure your tent, but if someone really wanted in there all they would have to do is grab a knife and slice it open, so again, it's best to just put important stuff in your car or w/e to keep it safe while you aren't at camp.
Yes, if you leave your Leno unattended you run the very real risk of having your stuff stolen. Use common sense.
I finally let my guard down last year Sun night, by leaving my backpack in my tent under my cot, and our camp was hit (and we were gone no more than an hour for the DMB show). All of us lost our backpacks. We weren't the only ones either; based on the line at the lost and found Monday morning it looked like there was an organized hit Sunday night.
Beer will be taken out of coolers if left out, valuables will be taken if left out, as well as bags and anything else thieves decide they want.
If you don't want someone else walking off with something you own, lock your Leno up.
I don't want to scare you away or anything, but anything valuable you have needs to be locked in your car when you're away from camp for an extended period of time. I've been robbed while I was sleeping, back in 08, and the same thing happened to a few of our neighbors last year. After the fest there are always people with stories about getting robbed on here. You may want to get a suitcase lock to put on your tent; it won't keep people from slashing the tent if they really want to get in, but it will deter the people who are just trying to steal stuff quickly and without drawing attention to themselves. I've heard of beer and coolers being stolen, so if you're worried, you could put those back in the car when you leave for a long time, or if you have a big tent throw them in there. Same for chairs.
Most important way to prevent stuff getting stolen is to make friends with all your neighbors; you watch out for their stuff, they watch out for yours.
Yeah, there are multiple thefts every year. It's lame, but that's reality. Despite what people might tell you, Bonnaroo is not all sunshine and unicorns. There are some straight up sketchy characters at Roo.
You just have to not be careless about leaving things out or in your tent and you'll be fine...
Last Edit: Mar 3, 2011 15:47:27 GMT -5 by sunnyd - Back to Top
You just have to not be careless about leaving things out or in your tent and you'll be fine...
And btw, this comment sounds like ridiculously easy advice to follow until you realize midway through Fri just how fantastically stupid you've been and will continue to be through the rest of Roo
Haha, ah well if I get to see one unicorn i'll be pretty stoked. I may just bring a chain and hook it to the chassis of my car if I have something big I dont want stolen (i.e. portable hammock).
On subject of getting stuff stolen, I have 3 or so friends I am definitly going. Some more groups that I know from home are going, but I kindve figured it would be good to have space from them incase I get tired of socializing. Or would yall recommend pitching up by them, to have more safety in numbers.
Post by itrainmonkeys on Mar 3, 2011 16:13:22 GMT -5
Lock up anything you don't want stolen in your car.
I've never had anything stolen from my camp site but also have head other's horror stories. People can be cruel and take stuff. Make sure your car is locked and don't leave anything valuable in the open.
There are thieves everywhere. At any festival. In your community. Just be careful
Now, most of the people who go to Bonnaroo are good folks, but it only takes a few unsavory types to ruin it for all. Yes, there are some scumbag thieves every year who wander around the campgrounds when everyone is at Centeroo. The bottom line is that if there's anything that you would be very upset to lose, it needs to be locked up in your car, kept on your person, or left at home. You don't need to dismantle your entire campsite every day, just put your cooler, extra cash, etc. in the trunk of your car whenever your leave. While some people might be deterred by a lock on a tent, there are probably just as many who would be tempted by it - so you might end up with not just missing valuables, but also a useless tent to boot.
Dont't get scared! I've been to all Roos but one and have never had anything stolen. I leave whiskey, radio, cooler, food, etc out and have never had a problem.
But I camp at the vehicle and get to know my neighbors very well. This means that any strangers in the area are immediately recognizable. It helps a lot in curbing potential thieves.
That being said, I do lock up valuable like money, wallet, party favors, etc.
If you're in Tent Only it seems a bit more "unseemly" as people come and go a lot and most people are gone all day and night.
Just used common sense. If you can't afford to lose it. Lock it up.
Edit: Oh I did have a buddy of mine lose a couple beers one year but the "thief" left some money as compensation, enough to buy a comparable amount in Centeroo.
Last Edit: Mar 3, 2011 16:55:58 GMT -5 by troo - Back to Top
Post by plasticpepper on Mar 3, 2011 17:26:24 GMT -5
Here are my guidelines: 1. If you absolutely can't live without it after Bonnaroo (and CAN live without it at Bonnaroo), don't bring it. At all. 2. If it would SUCK REALLY HARD if it got stolen but you really need/want it at Bonnaroo, then make sure it's either on your person or locked out of sight in the car when you leave the campsite. Or chain it to something if it's something big like a cooler. 3. If you would really rather it not get stolen but will survive just fine if it does, leave it in the tent when you leave the campsite. 4. If you don't mind sharing, then go ahead and leave it out when you leave the campsite.
Which means that if you're going Tent Only and don't have a car to lock things in, things you REALLY need or care about should either stay with you at all times or not come to Bonnaroo in the first place.
The theft is really not TOO bad, all things considered, but it does happen. Just be smart. I've been in Tent Only (with JHO) the past two years and each year we had a cooler stolen, but it was because they weren't locked up. Our other coolers were bike locked to the EZ-up and survived just fine. Odds are no one will steal your clothes out of your tent, but I wouldn't leave a backpack or anything like that which looks like it might contain a wallet or other valuable things.
Oh, and I don't think I would suggest putting a lock on your tent. The fabric of your tent is not exactly a high-security system, so it's not as if the door is the only possible access point to your tent. The lock's barely going to slow anyone down if they want in there, so in my opinion it's basically like hanging a sign on your tent that says "I HAVE THINGS I DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE!"
On the threads somewhere pretty recently, someone had thought of an excellent way to lock your cooler & chain it to the ground (there were nice instructional pictures too). I couldn't find the link...does anyone else know where it is?
I kind of think of vacationing at Bonnaroo like I do vacationing anywhere else: If you keep your wits about you when it comes to shady characters/thieves, you should be fine. As everyone else has said, lock up your valuables, whether that means a nice camera, a cell phone, money or a fancy camp grill. Also, if you think there are questionable people/wooks camping around you, I wouldn't advertise how you brought your new $2,500 laptop. Most everyone who will be at Bonnaroo will be great, but there's always a few bad apples.
Haha, ah well if I get to see one unicorn i'll be pretty stoked. I may just bring a chain and hook it to the chassis of my car if I have something big I dont want stolen (i.e. portable hammock).
On subject of getting stuff stolen, I have 3 or so friends I am definitly going. Some more groups that I know from home are going, but I kindve figured it would be good to have space from them incase I get tired of socializing. Or would yall recommend pitching up by them, to have more safety in numbers.
It's not so sketchy that you need to worry about camping "by yourself."
You're going to be surrounded by people either way, so do whatever you prefer. (I estimate 95% of the people at Bonnaroo are, at least, pretty alright.)
Get to know your neighbors and KEEP VALUABLES (I'd like to recommend not actually bringing much of value to begin with) LOCKED IN YOUR CAR.
It's awesome to get all crazy and have lots of fuckin' fun. But it's always more awesome to be responsible while doing it.
Like Troo said, certainly don't get scared or worry yourself too much!
That said, take your average 70k-ish population city, condense it into an area measured in acres, not square miles, and that's basically what you're dealing with at Bonnaroo. Sure, the festival factor will help your odds a whole bunch and folks as a whole tend to be kind, but sh*t still gets taken. Exploitation and desperation always find a little corner in any population. Use a little precaution and you'll be alright.
I have worry for thieves, especially if I find one, because I will cut their dickoff! Fuck-that, No room for that crap! I passed out at camp last year, my glass was on the table next to me, when I woke up, it was gone along with some other not-to-valuable things. Be smart, lock valubles in your car. Remember the rule, if you do not want to lose it, leave it at home. Look out thieves, if I find you, you will not being leaving Roo in the same way you arrived! Not a threat, just a promise!
I never bring things to Bonnaroo or any other festival that I don't want to lose.
I never buy or bring new clothes or shoes. I never bring anything that I'm not willing to surrender to the festival gods. I used to never bring a phone because most of the festivals were in the middle of nowhere and there wasn't phone service. It was also before I had kids so I didn't need to keep in touch with the outside world.
But yeah, I've seen people with lap tops, constantly on their phones. My advice is to forget about the gadgets and facy clothes and shoes and enjoy the weekend.
I never bring things to Bonnaroo or any other festival that I don't want to lose.
I never buy or bring new clothes or shoes. I never bring anything that I'm not willing to surrender to the festival gods. I used to never bring a phone because most of the festivals were in the middle of nowhere and there wasn't phone service. It was also before I had kids so I didn't need to keep in touch with the outside world.
But yeah, I've seen people with lap tops, constantly on their phones. My advice is to forget about the gadgets and facy clothes and shoes and enjoy the weekend.
I agree with you, Karen. I am always surprised by the number of people who insist on being plugged in at Roo.... I consider it the one time of year when I totally break from reality. However, you do need to be smart about possible theft. Wooks are sneaky creatures and if you see one in your area keep your eyes open.
Post by candyflippedaround on Mar 4, 2011 17:50:11 GMT -5
I have only had a problem with it one of the four years ive been, and it was in 09. we were pretty lax about our site, leaving stuff on the table when we went into centeroo etc etc. no one went into our tents but my friend left his bag outside the tent and it was taken. we were actually hit up multiple times on Sat night/sunday so im guessing it was the same people who were camped close by and were keeping an eye on us to see when we were out which sucks. there was also dudes running tanks around our site so i think we were just in a sketchy area in general that year. me and two friends were also up at like 5 am when some nosy sketchball decided he was gonna stick his head into our ez up that had 4 tarp walls. we heard him and his friend walking by and we all kept quiet so he didnt think anyone was in there, i wonder what he would have done had he not seen three tweaked out dudes sitting there. never had a problem before or since
Post by professornull on Mar 4, 2011 21:44:58 GMT -5
Like others have said, do not leave anything you truly value out in the open. Minimally put it in your tent and zip it up. Better yet, put it in your vehicle and lock it. If it is money, electronics, valuables, etc., don't ever risk not locking it up.
Last year I had one $20 folding chair knicked from my trunk just as soon as I parked and was setting up my tent. Previously, from all combined festivals, I have never had an incident.
Most people you encounter at Bonnaroo are 100% bonafide cool people. With the large numbers of people attending nowadays it only takes the tiniest fraction of that to spoil the trust factor.
p.s. If you think you will need your iPad, laptop or other expensive electronic device that you cannot live without, please leave it at home (or worse case locked in your car).
what the other posters have said is all good advice. Just don't invite trouble by leaving anything of value accessible and in view. lock it up. As cool as the Roo vibe is, if you consider the sheer numbers of people, the law of averages, if you will, states that there are going to be at least a few of them dishonest.
so just use good common sense. Same applies to your money/cards. carry just what you think you need that day/night and lock everything else up.
Post by champagne cory on Mar 5, 2011 4:51:40 GMT -5
Ive been the paste two years, it seems like there are "organized" hits each year. First year, had our tents slashed open as well as our whole block. Luckily no one lost anything, and we all became friends because of it. Second year, nothing happened to us, but heard A LOT of stories on here. Lock your shit up in your car, or don't get shit canned and pass out on shake down street.
On the threads somewhere pretty recently, someone had thought of an excellent way to lock your cooler & chain it to the ground (there were nice instructional pictures too). I couldn't find the link...does anyone else know where it is?
sugarhigh... I know what you're talking about. This is the setup I've used for the past couple of years. 2 dog run stakes screwed into the ground right next to each other and locked together. From there I run a rubber coated cable from the stake to the ice chest handle and lock it to itself, and run a second one to the lock on our action packer (lockable storage bin). You can run as many lines as you need using this system, and it is as effective as you can get. I also loop a chain through the handles of the ice chest, and over the top to keep sticky fingers out....
Post by icantenough on Mar 16, 2011 2:30:30 GMT -5
one night it was raining and i slept in my GF's SUV because it felt so good outside, while dozing to MMJ in the distance, i awoke to some ahole rifling through the glovebox. by the time i crawled over the seats and fully came to realize what was going on, dude was gone. he didnt get anything, but still....
other than that, in my 8 Roos i have never had any problems.
like many other people said, the best thing to do is get to know your neighbors really well. also, the bigger your group, the better the chance that someone is going to be chilling there.
and dont lock your keys in your car. bring a spare, put it in two ziplock bags, and bury it somewhere, then you never have to worry and you might get a funny story out of it.
Post by arlenefavreau1 on Mar 16, 2011 8:52:28 GMT -5
Arlene and I were not hit in 08 but that is because I kept reminding her that even though we were at the BEST of the festivals it DEFINATELY did not mean we had the BEST of humanity so if you dont mind loosing it you LOCK it up.
Post by fearthestupid on Mar 16, 2011 16:59:00 GMT -5
i've been lucky for 4 years but without a doubt there are some unsavory types there...there are people who go for nothing more than to steal your stuff or sell you things that aren't what they appear...have you noticed the people that are only there on thurs and fri, and only in the campground?...they are gone by saturday morning with cars full of your stuff and money...
Post by belltwala1 on Mar 16, 2011 22:29:23 GMT -5
where do you guys keep your car keys? i dont want to carry mine because im afraid i will lose them, however, i dont want to leave them in the tent and have someone take them out of there. i was thinking maybe under the tent? i dotn bring anything valuable to roo but id super hate to lose my keys
