Editor's Note:  This is your fifth known stopped pick-pocket in the US. We received the testimonial via a Facebook comment. Bryan W. is from Fair Oaks, California, and was wearing a pair of our Adventure Traveler Pants.

------ We followed up with Bryan and here is how it happend ------

Editor's Note:  This is your 42nd known stopped pick-pocket in Paris!

Dear Clothing Arts,

My wife and I went to Europe for the first time. Our plan was to spend a month travelling around to Zurich, Lucerne, Paris, Rome, and London. From these main cities we took lots of side trips. Almost all travel was on public transit, including planes, trains, trams, buses, boats and ferries.

We had been successful on the transit in Switzerland the first week and were a little more confident with each trip. We then took the high speed train (pushing 300 kpm) to Paris and managed to make all the connections to the hotel, gaining confidence. On one of the first outing's we headed into the underground maze at Gare de Lyon station with a train number and a destination towards the Eiffel Tower.

As you deal with the ticket kiosk, entry gates, multiple turns and stairways, you loose your sense of direction. We made it to the train platform, however it is very confusing as to which way you need to catch the train. You are by several tracks, the trains come and go in both directions, there are lots of stops listed but you do not know any of them, so that does not help. I knew we needed to go East, but there were no directions listed.

We had discussed the need to appear like a local, to minimize risk, but at this point we were obviously tourists. My wife noticed a train attendant and heads over to ask for help. I followed behind and this must have alerted the team of pick-pockets nearby that we were the easy mark. Pre occupied and confused. The attendant indicated that she spoke no English, and might have been part of the pick pocket team. It was not crowded and no one was close to me at this point. Then came the collision from behind, which knocked me forward, and I think the thief even grabbed me to appear he was keeping me from falling down as he tried to lift my wallet. Timming his apology immediately to make it seem like an accident.

My mind raced. It went into hyper mode. There was no one around me?? How could someone run into me with that much force?? Where did they come from?? I spun around in a split second to face a man who was about a head taller then me, and a crowd of about 4 surrounding him.

Where did these people come from?? Why were they close to me when the station was not crowded by us?? We were not in a line?? PICK POCKETS, THIEFS, GANG?.

While spinning, I felt for my wallet, and felt the lump. My other pockets were also secured, but I had little in them. I immediately began preparations for a fight. Concentrate on the eyes of the attacker, looking right thru him so my vision could monitor the others looking for movement, move in closer to see his reaction. My mind flashed with the thought of being in a French jail for an assault charge, he was bigger and younger than me, he had back up. Should I start swinging, screaming, run, what about my wife? My eyes were about 18 inches from his. What I saw was failure and surprise. His fellow thief's were beginning to disperse and hide their faces. I moved slightly forward and he took off behind them. My Clothing Arts pick-pocket pants saved the day!

Checking my pocket, he got by the first line of defense but not the zipper. It was slightly open so that is what he wanted, but he could not finish the job. The other thief's were probably waiting to get the wallet after he lifted it from me. If he would have got it and passed it off, one of them would have got away with it, and he would have appeared innocent. This was a team, women and men, they were good, I hate to think what would have happened had my wallet been gone when I checked for it. I hope it ruined their day, but in all reality, they most likely ruined the day for someone else.

Those pants paid for themselves, several times over!

The rest of the trip had no additional in your face events..... but as much as we were out their at all the sites, I am sure they were there. Just bought some new Clothing Arts shorts for the next trip.

- Mark R from Eugene, Oregon

Editor's Note:  This is your 22nd known stopped pick-pocket in Barcelona!

Dear Clothing Arts,

Here is my true story!

I was in Barcelona Spain with my wife, daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters. We were boarding a subway, and there wasn't much time to get all 8 of us up the steps. This old guy was coming out with two younger fellows next to him making it difficult for us to get past. I pushed my way in, and the old man (I was in my 70s myself) pushed me back! Not my temperament to let that happen, so I was pushing past him up the steps. We all got in.

When we were in the subway and moving my son-in-law asked, “Didn’t you feel the younger fellow’s hand in your pocket?" Well with the excitement and getting pushed I didn’t feel a thing! But my wallet was inside the zippered secret pocket inside the Clothing Arts pants side pocket opening.

Nothing was lost! Buying more for a trip to Europe!

- Jerry U. from Florence, South Carolina

Editor's Note:  This is your 1st known stopped pick-pocket in Bolivia. Jonathan was wearing one of his three pairs of our Adventure Traveler Pants.

Dear Clothing Arts,

Good afternoon. Your pants saved my iPhone 12X Max Pro in Bolivia. I was at the market on a busy Sunday with my Clothing Arts pants on. iPhone tucked away safely, cash in the pocket buttoned up and zipped, and away I went.

I have traveled to 34 countries and never had an issue. Bolivia was the end of that streak!

In the Mercado, I was in a narrow section, and the crowd acted as a “funnel” channeling shoppers to the most narrow section. That’s where it happened. An older Bolivian woman stepped on my left foot. Ouch!

I thought it was inadvertent, but as I tried to move my she stepped down harder. Her accomplice, a Bolivian man, was attempting to unbutton my pocket to get the phone. Still unaware of what was going on, my girlfriend who was ten feet away saw what was happening and started toward me. She yelled my name, and it was then I realized what was happening. Off into the crowd, the pickpockets went. Saves my day and my phone.

Thank you!

- Jonathan T. from Albuquerque, New Mexico

Editor's Note:  This is your 41st known stopped pick-pocket in Paris!

Dear Clothing Arts,

We just returned from a trip to Europe — Prague to Paris. On July 10th, we were at the Eiffel Tower late to see the lighted French icon. Being it was just a few days away from their National Day celebrations, the place was mobbed. We were packed in (literally shoulder-to-shoulder) which was a pickpocket’s dream. During the whole trip I was wearing your clothes — jeans and travel pants — and that night was a travel pants night.

The lighting event took place, the crowd was awed, and as we were leaving I felt a bump (a bit different than a crowd bump). I felt it a second time and turned to see a young boy (12-14 years old) frustrated that he couldn’t succeed in getting loot. We looked at each other, and I just grinned a bit and kept going. His look was frustrated. The next day a tour guide told me that young people are being used as they won’t be prosecuted if caught.

Thanks for the great travel clothing! It’s comfortable and allows us to really enjoy travel without the worry of losing whatever we are carrying.

- Bob B from Kingsport, TN

Editor's Note:  This is your 5th known stopped pick-pocket in Madrid. Dave's testimonial came from a follow-up on his ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review of the Business Travel Shirts.

Dear Clothing Arts,

I didn't mention it, but I was wearing one of your shirts in Madrid, when was pickpocketed. All they got was an envelope of sales receipts from my pants pocket- my wallet with cash and credit card and passport safely in my shirt.

Thought you might add this to your "saves" tally.

Thanks,

Dave K from San Luis Obispo, California

Here is Dave's Review of the Business Travel Shirts:

Editor's Note: This is your 40th known stopped pick-pocket in Paris!! John P.'s testimonial came to us by way of a 5* review of our Cubed Travel Jacket. This is the second stopped pick-pocket by a traveler wearing the jacket.

Editor's Note:  This is your 19, 20, 21st stopped pick-pockets in Barcelona!

Dear Clothing Arts,

I just left Barcelona two days ago.

3 tries. Face planted them all.

- Jack G from South Lake Tahoe, California

Editor's Note: This is your 4th known stopped pick-pocket in London. Jennifer's husband was one of the early adoptors of Pick-Pocket Proof Clothing in 2012! This testmionial came in to us via a Facebook comment & the follow-up message about how it happened is below.

We followed up with Jennifer & here is how it happened:

Editor's Note:  This is your 38th known stopped pick-pocket attempt in Paris alone! Pick-pockets employ misdirection against us to great effect. In this testimonial, Lewis was able to use the half dozen multi-secure pockets built into his pants to distract the pick-pockets from the real prize. By spreading out his valuables around his person, Lewis was able to get one over on the team of pick-pockets working this section of the Paris metro. They went for his coin purse and left his wallet with all the money safely secure behind multiple levels of protection! Here is how it happened:

Dear Clothing Arts,

April 21, 2022, as I entered a very crowded Paris Metro near Montmartre and was standing with my back to the open train door, I felt someone tugging at my right back pocket and leg. An iPhone cable was also twisted around my right foot to distract me.

As I hit at the hand on my back right pocket and moved away to my left, my coin purse fell to the floor from my unzipped left pocket.  

I had carefully kept the right pants and hip pockets zipped where I keep my cell phone and wallet, but I had just purchased a soft drink with coins from my small coin purse and failed to zip it or my left pocket.
 
The coin purse fell to the ground and coins spilled to the floor. As I reached down to gather the coins and the purse, the pickpocket team scampered quickly off the train.  

Fortunately, the pockets with my wallet and cell phone were carefully protected in zipped pockets, and the thieves got nothing for their efforts.  

Had the pickpocketers been able to get the coin purse, they would have gained only a little over a few Euros as I divided my money to only have a very limited amount in the purse.  

I wear Clothing Arts shirts and pants when I travel to areas where thieves have wandering hands, and the protection has paid dividends.  

- Lewis L. from Houston, Texas