Events are normally crowded, and you are near people you are generally unfamiliar with. Personal spaces are normally encroached into; hence body contact is very prevalent. Based on this, opportunistic crimes such as pickpocketing are very common. 

Also, the fact that there are so many people around in a small space, perpetrators of crime use this avenue to be able to escape being detected when they steal from you.

Another important factor to consider is that you might not even be aware immediately that you have just fallen victim to a crime in a crowded place; this gives the perpetrators ample time to use whatever they have stolen from you before you start carrying out any safeguarding measure such as blocking of credits cards, phones etc.

Based on these, please find below a few tips to prevent you from falling victim in a crowd of people you do not know or an event: For ease of remembering, I have given the below tips the mnemonics “BUSH PIG”

B - Try not to carry bulky items- as these could be easily seen by someone who might want to steal them.

U -Do not take any unnecessary items with you- the more you carry, the more it is difficult to manage. A lot of people who take valuables tend to leave them in vehicles parked at the event, this has its pros and cons. Bear in mind vehicles may be broken into despite the presence of security personnel.  The best option is not to take any valuables with you. Leave them at home. Again, this is at your discretion. However, if you have no choice, try not to put items in the clear view of any outsiders whilst you are at the venue already. Put your belongings in the boot of the vehicle before you arrive at the venue.

S- Keep all items in a place that you can easily see or feel if it goes missing- this is at your discretion, however, if an item is not in your clear view of subconscious awareness, if it goes missing, you might not notice it immediately. Try not to use or draw attention to your valuables whilst at the event- bringing out your wallet to take money, credit card etc and putting it back in your pocket, bag etc draws attention and the perpetrators not only know that you have such an item, but they are also privileged to know where you have placed the item- making it easier for them to reach.

H- If you can, avoid hugging people you do not know in a crowd. Some people have fallen victim when during an event, in an excitable state have had a group hug with unknown persons. For ladies, apply discretion if you intend to take your handbag with you or not. Again, note the point above (carry only what is necessary) handbags (especially if they contain purses, phones etc), the crime perpetrators not just target you for its content but also the fact that a lot of times, this piece of storage facility is unzipped, open, left unattended, hung on the shoulder with the bag itself behind the arms. 

P- Avoid using the back pocket of your trousers (especially for men) to store your valuables. Quite several thefts especially phones and wallets have been made easier when the victim places their valuables in the back pockets of their trousers.  These items are not in your clear view at all times, and you will struggle to find out who took these items once taken in a crowd of people.

I-Trying not to be intoxicated to a level that you lose the management of being aware of your surroundings – again, crime perpetrators note this. They would like to take advantage of your situation.

G- If you can go in groups with friends/ colleagues where you all look out for each other and note when/ if a suspicious person is either coming too close, becoming too familiar etc.

The above is not exhaustive, just useful tips. A lot more could be added depending on the situation and the type of crowd that you find yourself in.