Editor's Note: ​This is your first known stopped pick-pocket in Turkey. Enrique is a long time wearer of our apparel having first upgraded in 2019. He was wearing his Buisness Travel Pants when the pick-pocket attempt was made.

​Dear Clothing Arts,

I purchased a pair of your dress pants, which I have used for years when traveling. Last week, for the first time, I had an attempted pickpocket in Istanbul while riding the Metro. The thief could not lift the left front zipper & quickly stepped out at the coming stop. It was almost entertaining feeling him struggle as my wife watched him from a few steps away.
 
You have a great product, which is also very durable.

Enrique E. from Dayton, Ohio

Editor's Note: This testimonial is the second stop by Rob S. from San Diego. He previously wrote in with a testimonial in Japan: 178th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Last Night Out in Okinawa Saved!

​Dear Clothing Arts,

Since that incident, I have bought several more pairs of your shorts and pants and have used them in over 10 countries, including high-crime areas like Manila and New Delhi. They have never let me down even the one time a guy on a Jeepney near the rough Ermita area of Manila unbuttoned my back pocket, but fortunately couldn't also get the zipper without me noticing. There was nothing in there but some coins so no issue as I usually utilize the awesome small zipper in the front pocket where it is almost impossible to get to without cutting the pants.

Best wishes for Clothing Art's continued success and always keeping travelers' pockets around the world safe and sound in their journey!

Cheers,
Rob S from San Diego, California

Editor's Note: This testimonial comes from a recent ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review of our Adventure Traveler Pants and bring the Clothing Arts story full circle. One of the cities Keith reports stopping a pick-pocket was Xian. In 2007, our Founder / Designer Adam Rapp had a run-in with a team of pick-pockets beneath the Bell Tower in the city and went on to create the pants Keith was wearing on his travels!

A Very Special Editor's Note: This stopped pick-pocket testimonial came from a recent review left on the Adventure Traveler Pants page. It is a special stopped pick-pocket story as the pants Keith wore on his trip to Xi'an were inspired here over a decade earlier when our founder/designer Adam Rapp had a run-in with a team of pick-pockets beneath the famous Bell Tower pictured above.

There is a large traffic circle above ground and an underground walkway for people to access the tower and cross the street beneath - much like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It was in this tunnel where the ideas that would eventually become Pick-Pocket Proof Pants were inspired when our founder looked down at his chinos and thought, "Why not combine a great pair of travel pants with the security of money-belts."

Fast forward 14 years and 250,000+ of our pants walk the world and now they have come full circle, with Keith stopping a pick-pocket attempt in Xian... perhaps the very one that tried to get Adam's wallet all those years ago!

Editor's Note: This is your first known stopped pick-pocket in Japan!

Dear Clothing Arts,

I bought your Travel Adventure Pants and have used them in Thailand, South Korea, India, Philippines, and now Japan where it met its first test and passed with flying colors. On April 3rd, I went out into the American Village in Okinawa to enjoy one last night there and buy supplies for the week. Many places were crowded including the numerous small shops.

As I was on the main tourist street by the Starbucks a group of three professional pick-pocket thieves caused a distraction by dropping a bag of items on the ground while the walking crosswalk light was red and then bumping into me and others while the crowd of unsuspecting tourists helped pick up the items. They successfully unbuttoned my rear left pocket but were unable to unzip my zipper fully holding my cash/credit cards. I never noticed the attempt as my guard was left down being in “safe” Japan until I arrived at a supermarket and found my pocket was tampered with.

Luckily these pants saved the night as if these cards were stolen it would be very difficult to get a timely replacement due to the Covid19 current circumstances. These pants lived up to all the expectations and paid for themselves with both having a peace of mind and knowing I have that added layer of security when I unexpectedly needed it the most.

Thank you,

Rob S. San Diego, CA

Editor's Note: This comment came via a Facebook post. This is your first known stop in the Philippines!

--- We followed up via email with Walter M. ---

Dear Clothing Arts,

While in the Philippines I was confronted with one of the local tricks when riding a Jeepney. Someone drops a few coins on the floor and when you try to help them pick up the coins, a pick-pocket puts his hands in your pocket and tries to relieve you of your cash or wallet.

Walter M. from Texas, USA.

Editor's Note: This is the first known stopped pick-pocket[s] by a traveler wearing Pick-Pocket Proof®️ Apparel in Bangladesh! John likely experienced more than just the three confirmed stops mentioned below. It pays to be prepared and in a pair of our pants, you are a more difficult target than a pick-pocket is ready to handle.

Dear Clothing Arts,

I just returned from two weeks in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and whenever I planned to be​ in crowds, I wore my Pick-Pocket Proof Pants. Several times I felt tugs when the crowds were close, but everything stayed secure.

Every time I was in a crowd, with everyone jostling, I felt tugs on my back pockets. On two or three occasions, I felt someone pat my front pockets where my wallet (left side) and cellphone (right) side were.

I'm 6’2”, 230, bright blue eyes, and white hair walking around and was probably targeted in Bangladesh because I stood out like a sore thumb. I was in a crowd multiple times over two weeks, and each time, I purposely wore my pick proof pants, and each time I felt tugs on both my front and back pockets. Once, I even had both buttons undone on a cargo pocket, though why they would try that pocket when it was obviously empty is beyond me.

- John T. from Florida, USA.

Editor's Note: This is your first known stop in Myanmar!

Dear Clothing Arts,

Outside Mandalay, Myanmar, observing hundreds of Monks going to breakfast and alms, a pick-pocket attempted on both front pockets. Zipper down 1/4 way is it.

No go.

- Gary P. from Florida, USA

Editor's Note: This is your first stop in Singapore!

Dear Clothing Arts,

While in Singapore, I was strolling thru a super crowded gold jewelry bazaar wearing the green Adventure Cargo Pants and feeling very locked down and secure, but also much more cognizant and aware of my surroundings. I was being pressed in on both sides by men when I felt several tugs on my back right pocket triggering my response to rapidly whip around breaking the press of two larger men on each side and looking down straight in the eyes of a shorter man about half my size. Frankly, it was rather startling and did surprise them, at which point all three of the scoundrels dispersed, leaving me feeling rather satisfied knowing that my passport, credit cards, and money were still tucked safely away. What a great feeling to have on the highways and byways of Southeast Asia. Truly a work of art. My problem is remembering how to access my own stuff in my own pants pockets. Takes a bit of getting used to.

THX---Steven W. from Washington, USA