Editor's Note: This is your 59th known stop in Paris. You can read all stopped pick-pocket from the "City of Lights" using our destination search feature.

Dear Clothing Arts,

We had landed just a few hours ago at Charles De Gaulle airport outside of Paris. Tired from little sleep overnight from Ohio, we boarded the RER into Paris to find our hotel. Our money, credit cards, cell phones, and passports were secured deep in my Adventure Travelers Pants. We were about to embark on a 2.5-week adventure ending in Barcelona.

Half dozing, half awake, the train made a routine stop. Some exited, and some entered.​ Stuffed in our seats along with our luggage, I guess we were easy to pick out as tourists. Two men approached us, dropping something on the floor underneath us. They made a fuss and pressed their way into our already tight “space,” looking, reaching, and feeling for whatever was dropped. I was picked up bodily from my seat by one of the men while the yelling continued (in French, of course), and the other man continued to dig around us, feeling for whatever he could find. A woman sitting nearby started yelling in English - WATCH YOUR POCKETS! The “door closing” buzzer sounded, and these men bolted from the car. Their timing was perfect - they were clear of the door just as it slammed the last few inches shut.

The woman explained in French to my French speaking wife that pickpocketing had been particularly aggressive over the summer Olympics and continued beyond. Further, she indicated the police were pretty much powerless given the multitude of similar incidents, and there was little that could be done!

Surveying the damage from the attack, all was secure still in my Adventure Travelers which remained zipped up tight. This made a lasting impression. ​I wore those pants every day in our 2.5 week travels, secure in the knowledge that our valuables were safe!

A few days later, we witnessed another incident, similar but disturbing. On the Metro near Montmartre, two men (among others) entered our car. A commotion ensued. Looking around, we saw another man standing with his pants down to his ankles and the two men running from the car with wallet in hand! The victim was a tourist, carelessly carrying his wallet in his back pocket. The thieves used his pants as a distraction to make the quick grab and exit - again perfectly timed as the doors shut. The story might have been different with some basic security measures - and a pair of Adventure Traveler's pants, of course!

Thanks for saving our trip!

Steve L.​ from Troy, OH

Editor's Note: This is your 57th and 58th stop in Paris... that we know about!! Angie R. from Newton, Ohio has been wearing our pants since 2016. Over nearly a decade, her pants have stopped multiple pick-pocket attempts in Paris. Her review came in via a ★★★★★ of our Women's Travel Pants. We followed up with Angie to learn more about her experience, which you can read below.  

--- We Followed Up With Angie To Learn More About Her Experience ---

Dear Clothing Arts,

Here is more details on my experience.

In 2016, I was with three friends on Easter weekend in Paris. Waiting in a long line for Gelato, I felt someone brush up against my back pocket. I turned around and saw a young lady walking away from me! Good thing these pants have a zipper and button flap over the pocket!

A second time in Paris, a similar circumstance where I was in a crowd waiting to get into a museum, felt someone brush up against me. These thrives are so slick you hardly feel anything. Anyway, your products really do work! Plus, the quality is excellent!

Thank you,

Angie R. from Newtown, Ohio

Editor's Note: This is your eight known stopped pick-pocket in the USA. Amazingly, Bryan W. from Fair Oaks, California, stopped pick-pocket #216 a year earlier at the SAME festival! Read his earlier testimonial here. This makes him one a select few travelers who have stopped multiple pick-pockets while wearing Pick-Pocket Proof Apparel. Bryan was wearing a pair of our Adventure Traveler Pants with the attachable "water" bottle pocket. This is the first known stopped pick-pocket by someone using the bottle pocket with the pants. This add-on design allows you to fully cover the front pockets which provides another layer of defense between your wallet and the world. You can find the bottle pockets in our accessories section. We received his second testimonial via a Facebook comment.

------ Bryan followed Up With His Second Stopped Pick-Pocket Testimonail A Few Months Later -----

Editor's Note: This is your 4th known stop in Lisbon, Portugal. Paul has been traveling with our secure pockets since 2019. He was wearing a pair of pants or shorts from the Adventure Traveler Line.

Dear Clothing Arts,

I am writing to let you know how my Clothing Arts travel pants stopped a pick-pocket in Lisbon, Portugal.

​On our way to dinner, we spotted a group of people​ gathered at the bottom of a hill.​ As we made our way up, they started behind us. About halfway up the hill the group began to overtake and pass by us, bumping into me in the process. There was no one else around, so there was no reason for them to be that close.

As they passed, I felt something (a hand?) in the area of my back pocket. I turned to see one of the men back away. Because of the secure pockets in the pants, they were not able to get anything.

Thanks for making these great pants. I always wear them when traveling.

- Paul G. from Greenbrae, California

Editor's Note: This is your 29th known stop in Barcelona, and another successful stopped pick-pocket from a traveler wearing our Women's Travel Pants!

Dear Clothing Arts,

I was in Madrid when I read your email about the 249th attempt. A couple of days later, I was in Barcelona. I felt confident with my passport zipped and buttoned on my left side. After my tour group's final dinner at a restaurant, we all walked as a group to the escalators to exit the building.

Within a microsecond, there was a tall man in a black jacket directly in front of me who came from my right side. I saw another man in a black jacket fumble in front of him. As the man in front of me came to a hard stop, I instinctively put my hands up and touched his back because he was too close. Then they disappeared and did not get on the escalator. One of my travel partners on my left side saw this and asked, "Did they get anything - check your pockets."  

My right upper pocket was still zipped (with my remaining couple of Euros). My side pocket was intentionally left unbuttoned as I had nothing in it. I never felt anyone, but I suspect they were hoping for some goodies from my open pocket. I normally carry my phone in this pocket, however, I always kept it in my hand when in public.

In my case, I initially just thought it was someone who stumbled, but after I thought about it, it was their ploy to get close to me. My story might be a good heads-up for others.

I found your product from a Facebook ad a couple of years ago. I bought a couple, knowing I would be traveling after the pandemic subsided. I wear them almost every day! I no longer carry a purse and know I can easily take all my essentials and keep them secure. I don't worry about pickpockets at home, but I love the zippers to keep everything intact. I recently bought my 4th pair!! I need the tall style and am happy they are the perfect length for me.

Thanks for a great product!

- Barbara F. from Minnesota

P.S. I also appreciate the easy hand wash and hang dry quality of the fabric so I always had fresh clothing during my travels.

Editor's Note: This is your 40th stopped pick-pocket in London... that we know about! Anthony upgraded to our secure travelwear in 2023 and a pair of Adventure Traveler Shorts successsfully frustrated the pick-pocket on the Metro.

Editor's Note: This is your 28th stopped pick-pocket in Barcelona... that we know about! Malcolm's testimonial came to us via a ★★★★★ review of our Flagship Adventure Traveler Pants. He has been a long-time wear of Pick-Pocket Proof Travelwear, first upgrading in 2018. We followed up with him to learn more about how it happened: "I was in BCN for work and was waiting outside a very popular restaurant for a table in the evening, and this charming guy started chatting to me and brushed up against me. I felt his hand try to undo the external tab, and I backed away and yelled, 'Pick-pocket.' He rapidly disappeared."

Editor's Note: This is your 3rd stopped pick-pocket in Vatican City... that we know about! Kelleigh's testimonial came to us via a ★★★★★ review of our Women's Travel Pants.

Editor's Note: This is your 7th stopped pick-pocket in London... that we know about!

​Dear Clothing Arts,

Recently, in London, I stepped out of a taxi near the front of my hotel in Mayfair, having replaced my credit card in my right front pocket. A heavily made-up woman approached me closely and asked me to help light her cigarette. Not wanting to be rude (and being curious even though my wife was only ten feet away), I used both hands to remove the match and strike it on the box, lighting her cigarette--only to detect her blowing it out covertly as she used her right arm to pull me closer to the building behind her. I then became aware of her left hand feeling for the contents of my right front pocket--but in vain, as the zipper on my travel pants was closed! I shouted as my wife threatened to call the police, but it was over!  

Congratulations on a great design for travel pants.  

I just ordered another pair, and one of my friends ordered 2 pairs after hearing about my adventure.

- Anonymous From Los Angeles, California

Editor's Note: ​This is your 56th known stopped pick-pocket in Paris. Scott was wearing a pair of Convertible Travel Pants on the trip.

​Dear Clothing Arts,

Long overdue getting you this, but here’s a good and bad news event. Four friends and I did a Germany to France tour from May 25 through June 10, 2023. Before the trip, I purchased two pairs of your convertible pants (unbelievable for all sorts of reasons – great looks, comfort, feel, washability, and incredible pick-pocket safety). At that time, I highly recommended getting a pair or two to the guys. One bought a pair of shorts (he should have purchased at least a pair of convertibles, which he regretted, but he’s cheap), and the other two guys didn’t buy at all (they’re even cheaper.)

Bad news. We’re now on the last leg of our trip in France, heading to the Eiffel Tour by subway. Of course, we stick out like real knuckleheads (which we are – but fun) from the U.S. trying to navigate subway directions. We might have well shouted we’re here, “Come all “pick-pocketers.” In my defense, I had pleaded with the guys to be extremely careful with their wallets. Keep your hands in your pocket, hold onto your wallet, stick close together, and don’t get caught surrounded by a bunch of kids asking questions. I might as well have been talking to a brick wall to one of the guys. It didn’t take two seconds getting on the train (I didn’t even notice) when, unbelievably, a lady held up a wallet and said, anyone named John Baptiste (our buddy) here? As you would expect, $500 is gone. But that’s all they took. John got his wallet back with everything in it except the money (I guess there “is honor among thieves.) I asked John what happened. I don’t think he knew, but his brother said he got surrounded by four or five kids asking him questions and just like you read about, a “textbook hit” – amazing.

Good news. This may sound crazy, but my other buddy (the semi-cheap guy) who bought your shorts had the same thing happen the next day. I had noticed two boys a little further back the aisle from us and two girls close behind one of my friends. It seemed like they were just there. (I bumped into my friend, who had his back to the group, and he guarded his wallet.) As we got off the train, my buddy, who was wearing your shorts, felt his pocket tugged long enough to realize what was going on and slapped a girl's hand away. He said she then just looked at him with a cold, unblinking stare – like, what are you doing? It bothered me enough that he mentioned how cold the stare was a couple of times after that – there was absolutely no feeling.

Forgot. Funny, but not funny to John. After the incident going to the Eiffel Tour after John got taken, one of the other “cheap” guys immediately handed me his wallet and said, “Hold on to this for me.” I did, but I never gave him his money back – just kidding.

In summation, I’m so glad I found out about you guys. Your pants provided me unbelievable comfort, knowing nothing was getting out of my pockets. As a note, I kept everything in my front pockets. (If there is one complaint, it was even hard for me to get stuff out of my pockets – a good problem to have!) I'm heading to Ireland soon. It's great comfort to have your convertible pants ready to go.

Thank you, Clothing Arts.  

- Scott