Austin Police Report Rash Of Pickpocket Thefts At ACL Festival

AUSTIN, TEXAS — A rash of pick pocketing thefts targeting Austin City Limits music festival attendees at Zilker Park prompted police on Monday to issues tips to avoid being victimized.

During the first weekend of ACL 2018, the Austin Police Department received more than 20 reports of thefts at the festival, law enforcement officials said. "A majority of these were handled as “thefts from person” cases, commonly referred to as pick pocketing," police wrote in and advisory. "In almost all of the cases, the item stolen was a cell phone."

As a result of the scourge, the APD issued some helpful safety tips:

• Pay attention to your surroundings, especially in crowds.
• Keep your phone and ID/credit cards/cash in separate places on your person.
• Phones sticking out of back pockets or backpacks are not secure.
• Keep property in a defensible location (front pocket, stylish fanny pack) or leave it at home (yeah, right!).
• Record serial number information for your device and keep it separate.
• Notify on-site security/APD immediately for assistance.
• Utilize APD’s online reporting site, http://austintexas.gov/department/ireportaustincom or 311 (non-emergency to report a theft.
• If you see something, say something.

Anyone with information about these thefts is asked to call Region IV detectives at 512-974-8100. Tips also can be submitted by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.

The second ACL Festival weekend is Oct. 12-14. Safeguard your belongings.

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