Thursday, August 17, 2023 - Undercover officers arrest group accused of stealing cellphones at Lollapalooza, Chicago police say https://abc7chicago.com/lollapalooza-stolen-cell-phones-2023...

There are phone theft groups at every festival of sufficient size.

A year prior https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/4-charged-with-stealing-ph...

> Four people from out of state face charges for allegedly stealing phones during Lollapalooza in Chicago over the weekend.

> ...

> When police asked Bardales about the phones, he allegedly told them he bought them at the music festival for $50 each and planned to sell them for parts, CWB Chicago reports, citing prosecutors.

https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/stolen-cell-phones-from-acl...

> AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Police are investigating an international crime ring that targeted Austin City Limits Music Festival. Authorities believe a half-dozen people worked together to steal approximately 1,000 cell phones from festival attendees. Police say five people have been arrested but more suspects are involved.

I had my phone grabbed out of my hand at a concert in the US. But yeah pick pocketing is much more common in Europe, had people try it twice there. Once in Milan and once in Barcelona.

The big target here now is music festivals where teams will rove looking for vulnerable/inattentive people and get into their pockets or bags and bolt.