A Knott’s Berry Farm visit turned stressful for one couple earlier this week after their personal belongings were swiped from a ride cubby at Silver Bullet—highlighting a growing issue that many theme park fans say has been ignored for too long.
According to a detailed firsthand account shared on Reddit, the guest’s girlfriend placed her tote bag inside one of the attraction’s open cubbies before boarding the coaster. But when they returned? It was gone. No trace of it.
“When we got off, my girl’s tote bag—containing my wallet, car keys, and phone—was missing from the cubby. I triple-checked. Gone,” the user wrote.
What followed was a frantic search, emotional distress, and, thankfully, some quick thinking. Knott’s security allowed the guest to access iCloud from their own phone, which helped track the device to the other side of the park. Eventually, the couple located the missing bag—abandoned at a snack stand near Calico River Rapids.
The items inside told a mixed story: the phone and car keys were still there, likely because of the guest’s constant pinging and locking of the device. But the cash and credit cards were long gone.
“Phones and keys were still there… but my cash was gone and my cards were missing,” the post continued. “I’m not mad about the $40—I’m mad because someone caused my girl to panic and cry.”
To make matters worse, the couple had been separated from a younger sibling during the incident, and the missing phone left them unable to coordinate or call for help. For them, it wasn’t just about losing money—it was the sense of helplessness in a place where they should’ve felt safe.
An Ongoing Problem for Theme Park Guests
Theft from cubbies isn’t a new complaint at Knott’s or other major parks, but this story reignited the debate in online communities. Many fans say the park’s storage system is outdated—and even risky.
“I hate the cubby system. It’s outdated and anyone could grab your stuff,” one user commented in response. “Sometimes I’ll literally opt out of rides just because of the cubby thing.”
Another guest chimed in with similar advice:
“Unfortunately, this happens often, not just at Knott’s but at any other park with cubbies for belongings. I suggest limiting what you bring to the park and considering wearing zipper pockets.”
From phones and keys to refillable drink cups, Reddit and Facebook groups are full of anecdotes from people who had something disappear while they were riding. Many say they’ve stopped using the cubbies entirely unless absolutely necessary.
What Guests Can Do Right Now
While lockers are available for rent at Knott’s Berry Farm, they’re often seen as inconvenient or unnecessary for a short ride. That mindset may be changing as more stories like this surface online.
A few takeaways from guests who’ve learned the hard way:
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Keep essentials on your person, ideally in zippered or secure clothing.
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Leave non-essentials at home if you’re planning a full ride day.
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If you must split up, have a plan for where and when to meet.
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Use Find My or similar tools to track devices the moment something goes missing.
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Don’t assume someone’s watching the cubbies. No staff monitors these storage areas, and they’re easily accessible to anyone walking by.
While Knott’s Berry Farm hasn’t commented on this particular incident, it’s far from the first of its kind—and likely won’t be the last unless the park updates its storage policies. In the meantime, guests are leaning on each other to share strategies, advice, and unfortunately, cautionary tales.
As the original poster summed up:
“Could’ve easily stayed stranded on the streets throughout the night with literally nothing on us… And to everyone else, please be careful and learn from me.
