Argentine journalist Rolando Barbano was robbed of his cell phone while attending AC/DC’s concert at the Monumental stadium in River Plate on Monday night, and he was able to track the device to Lanús, in the province of Buenos Aires.
Barbano, who attended the show with his 14-year-old son, recounted the incident, explaining how a concertgoer approached him during a popular song and made off with his phone. The incident highlights the challenges of security at large-scale events and the increasing reliance on smartphones for ticketing.
“It started with one of the band’s most popular songs, the man approached me, greeted me, and grabbed me from the side,” Barbano recalled. “I tried to move towards my son, because he was getting lost in the crowd, and that’s when I felt the tug. When I reached for it, the zipper had been opened and my phone was gone. It’s difficult to protect yourself from this,” he explained in an interview with América TV.
“My first question was: ‘Why did I even bring my cell phone?’ But then I realized that now all tickets are on your phone. You’re obligated to bring your phone to the concert,” he said. “The fact that the ticket is digitalized leaves you no alternative,” he insisted.
Barbano admitted he was partially distracted during the concert, focusing more on his son than his belongings. “I was more attentive to my son than to the music,” he said, adding that he had prepared by wearing a jacket with zippered pockets to hold his phone and keys. “I could have too worn a fanny pack.”
After returning home, Barbano used the “Identify My” feature on his iPhone to track the stolen device. He was able to pinpoint its location in real-time to an address in Lanús. “It appeared two hours after the concert in the Lanús district, on Coronel Lucero Street at number 1800,” he stated.
A news crew was dispatched to the location, and a report was filed with the Valentín Alsina police station. However, authorities indicated they required a judge’s order to proceed with a search of the property.
The legendary Australian band AC/DC kicked off the first of three shows at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on Monday, launching their tour with a high-energy performance. Additional shows are scheduled for Friday, March 27, and Tuesday, March 31.
Led by Angus Young and Brian Johnson, the band delivered a setlist spanning their extensive catalog, blending classic hits with tracks from their latest album, Power Up.
With 20 studio albums and six live albums—including one recorded at the Monumental during their last visit to Argentina—the band captivated the enthusiastic crowd, who had been eagerly awaiting their return since their three-night run in December 2009 during the Black Ice Tour.
