Wembley warning - pickpockets and bags

Masterbrew

My daughter's husband is in the Met Police. He told her that hundreds of people were pick-pocketed today at the Women's Cup Final - phone snatching in particular. It was particularly bad around McDonalds, due to the crowds. She recommended keeping a tight grip on phones when using them (have a friend in front to block snatchers) and having wallets, tickets and so on in a secure pocket.

Also, there was a bag size limit about the size of A4 paper! 297mm (11.7") x 210mm (8.3") x 210mm (8.3"), no folding over allowed. Anything larger was not permitted, the only bag drop was at a hotel that charged £10 and had a 2-hour queue.

aliwibble

One of those 21mm should be 210mm. And are you sure about the 3rd dimension?

Weegie Addick

Remember going to an international match decades ago and my Dad having his wallet stolen from his back packet in the queue for Wembley Park tube. Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose. Keep your wits about you everyone. 

Masterbrew

aliwibble said:

One of those 21mm should be 210mm. And are you sure about the 3rd dimension?

Now corrected...otherwise would be extremely small. Wembley claims it's for security but more likely to stop anyone taking snacks in so having to buy inside at extortionate prices!

Masterbrew

https://www.wembleystadium.com/plan-your-visit/stadium-guide/restricted-bag-policy

The Red Robin

Restricted Bag Policy - Wembley Stadium https://www.wembleystadium.com/plan-your-visit/stadium-guide/restricted-bag-policy

Gribbo

Anyone got a link to the restricted bag policy?

North Lower Neil

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North Lower Neil

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Er_Be_Ab_Pl_Wo_Wo_Ch

They're strict on bag size requirements, not even worth attempting something big, in my view - I think you'll be sent to put it in a locker somewhere.

Wembley are great at handling exceptions, in my experience. My boy has a food allergy. Sending the related evidence to the appropriate Wembley team, we had no problem whatsoever getting a medical exemption certificate allowing us to bring in: food, and a bag bigger.

Anyone in a similar situation, needing any exemption for any valid reason, I suggest getting in touch with them. It sounds like a ball ache but it's very painless, and much easier than trying to make arrangements at the turnstile. The process hasn't changed since our 2019 visit, and we've used this service a number of times since and never had an issue.

Use this link - https://help.wembleystadium.com/support/tickets/new

The webform on that page will expand, as you select options, the page will end up looking like this. Note the attachment bit at the bottom, for your evidence.

Rock Spectacle

Think last time it was A4 size for a programme 

bertpalmer

Im putting my card in my shoe,my phone up my bum,will take it off vibrate

Stig

Gribbo said:

Anyone got a link to the restricted bag policy?

I can't find a link but I think there is a policy on restricted bags. If I can find out more I'll post here.

Er_Be_Ab_Pl_Wo_Wo_Ch

Somehow, I'd completely forgotten I need to do a medical exemption certificate for the boy for this game. Even as I was typing up the advice above, it didn't register. It was only reading back my own post I remembered I actually need to do one myself! Thanks, me.

Er_Be_Ab_Pl_Wo_Wo_Ch

Masterbrew said:

My daughter's husband is in the Met Police. He told her that hundreds of people were pick-pocketed today at the Women's Cup Final - phone snatching in particular. It was particularly bad around McDonalds, due to the crowds. She recommended keeping a tight grip on phones when using them (have a friend in front to block snatchers) and having wallets, tickets and so on in a secure pocket.

Also, there was a bag size limit about the size of A4 paper! 297mm (11.7") x 210mm (8.3") x 210mm (8.3"), no folding over allowed. Anything larger was not permitted, the only bag drop was at a hotel that charged £10 and had a 2-hour queue.

That's great advice about watching for phone snatching in particular, thanks @Masterbrew. The walk up to the stadium is usually carefree, many phones out for photos, easy targets.

KBslittlesis

Have a small cross body bag, have it under your jacket.
If you get your mobile out ensure you have something in between you & it to stop any easy access. I noticed while I waited outside Woolwich Elizabeth line when I got my phone out to contact my sister someone walking toward me. I moved to a bollard & placed it between me & them. They then walked off in a different direction.
Keep em peeled as they used to say 😎

cherryorchard

KBslittlesis said:

Have a small cross body bag, have it under your jacket.
If you get your mobile out ensure you have something in between you & it to stop any easy access. I noticed while I waited outside Woolwich Elizabeth line when I got my phone out to contact my sister someone walking toward me. I moved to a bollard & placed it between me & them. They then walked off in a different direction.
Keep em peeled as they used to say 😎

https://youtu.be/ljoLtwo8J20?si=j25voMo8GpuJTK8Y

shirty5

Keep your hand on your pfennig 

DaveMehmet

Er_Be_Ab_Pl_Wo_Wo_Ch said:

Somehow, I'd completely forgotten I need to do a medical exemption certificate for the boy for this game. Even as I was typing up the advice above, it didn't register. It was only reading back my own post I remembered I actually need to do one myself! Thanks, me.

You're not tool late as they changed the process slightly and you can't apply for one any earlier than a week before the event. Here's the links to the policy and the one to apply.

Restricted Bag Policy - Wembley Stadium

Submit a ticket : Wembley Support Portal

SporadicAddick

One would hope that any scrote looking to do this at a football match will get caught and dealt with by immediate community justice.

Steven81

SporadicAddick said:

One would hope that any scrote looking to do this at a football match will get caught and dealt with by immediate community justice.

Yep I'd love to catch someone trying to do this to me or my mates at the game be entertaining 

Carter

SporadicAddick said:

One would hope that any scrote looking to do this at a football match will get caught and dealt with by immediate community justice.

I'm always on edge in crowded places waiting for someone to try this. I'm partly gutted I've only been able to act on the edginess once on holiday with my wife and she gave the guy more of a kicking than I did. Thats the only thing shitarses like this understand and don't feel any fear about doing it, they thoroughly deserve any retribution that comes their way most coppers will turn the right way as well and it isn't like you won't have back up on Sunday 

Billy_Mix

bertpalmer said:

Im putting my card in my shoe,my phone up my bum,will take it off vibrate

at least one part of that assertion is not true, is it?

cafcfan

One of the simplest ways to help prevent theft - especially from a bloke's front jean pocket - is to wrap a heavy duty rubber band around your wallet (or 'phone?). This creates extra friction in the event of a lifting and makes it more likely that (a) the wallet will not leave the pocket or (b) you will notice the attempted theft.

Steven81

cafcfan said:

One of the simplest ways to help prevent theft - especially from a bloke's front jean pocket - is to wrap a heavy duty rubber band around your wallet (or 'phone?). This creates extra friction in the event of a lifting and makes it more likely that (a) the wallet will not leave the pocket or (b) you will notice the attempted theft.

That's what my mates been doing all this time I think in the pub and ground at half time struggles to get his wallet out.

Callumcafc

Surely not hundreds of people were pickpocketed?

Hal1x

cafcfan said:

One of the simplest ways to help prevent theft - especially from a bloke's front jean pocket - is to wrap a heavy duty rubber band around your wallet (or 'phone?). This creates extra friction in the event of a lifting and makes it more likely that (a) the wallet will not leave the pocket or (b) you will notice the attempted theft.

this will work also!

DamoNorthStand

I cant believe my missus hasnt had her phone nicked. What is it with women putting their phones in their back jeans pocket? A complete open goal for these thieves.

Carter

Callumcafc said:

Surely not hundreds of people were pickpocketed?

Its a large number but it wouldn't shock me if that was true. Think about the demographic of the day, might not be a million miles away from the crowd for a Taylor Swift show but easier targets than 30k of Charlton aggro ;-) 

DaveMehmet

Received my exemption certificate this afternoon, to be fair to Wembley, they're always very quick in getting these issued.