Tent thefts strike Glastonbury

"Sting operation" takes officers into the heart of the site

There have been more than 500 reported thefts from tents at Glastonbury, casting a shadow over the annual music festival.

The Somerset event has seen a rising tide of crime over the years as it attracts petty thieves tempted by easy pickings from camps.

By Saturday a total of 527 revellers had reported tent-related thefts, out of 649 crimes logged altogether. There have been 141 arrests so far.

The better side of Glastonbury: Great music, great ambience

Police officers have been analysing figures which show that tent raids tend to begin in the afternoon and peak at night. They are targeting patrols accordingly.

Stolen goods have been recovered around the site and it is hoped many festival-goers will be reunited with their possessions before they go home.

A security guard was injured in the early hours of Saturday morning when he went to the scene of a reported robbery.

Five men were arrested in the incident, which is thought to have involved a baseball bat and torch being brandished as weapons.

Tent 'slashed'

One camper told the BBC she had a camera, a pair of jeans and cash stolen during the night after her tent was slashed.

"We were both in there and we didn't hear a thing", she said.

Victim of night-time tent raid "didn't hear a thing"

The thefts come in spite of improved security at the annual festival.

Police officers are patrolling the site on foot this year and security cameras are being used for the first time.

Decoy tents have been pitched on site, with equipment inside for catching would-be thieves.

The perimeter fences are being patrolled by guards on horseback to prevent people getting in without paying.

Chief Superintendent Rick Palmer described the approach as a "sting operation".

He said drugs were still in evidence, but that the police focus this year was on dealers.

Queues of campers have reported thefts from their tents

"Those caught in possession [of drugs] will be cautioned on site in general", he added.

The 100,000-capacity event at Worthy Farm, Pilton, completely sold out after a late surge in sales.

Farmer Michael Eavis, who founded the festival in 1970, is this year joined by his daughter Emily as co-organiser.

She takes over from her mother, Jean, who died weeks before last year's festival.