February 21, 2017

44 Stopped Pick-Pocket: Theft At Chiang Mai Night Market Thwarted!

Asia ›   Chiang Mai ›   Thailand ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

Two days after the annual flower festival, I was walking down the main road of the night market in Chiang Mai, Thailand around midnight. The crowd was rather thick and I found myself having to literally brush up against others in order to get through to where I was going. When I got to the center of the market, I felt what seemed like a hand lightly slide down my right buttock.

I at first thought it might have been an accident, because everyone was bumping against everyone to make their way through the crowd. But, then it happened a second time, and this time it was clear that I had a pickpocket on my hands and they were trying to enter my rear pocket on my righthand side to grab my leather coin bag. I immediately turned to face whomever it was that was trying to rip me off. The thief scattered into the night crowd. They took with them a button from the back of my convertible adventure traveler pants. Maybe they panicked or maybe it was done as spite. Either way, my belongings were kept safe and I have only a missing button to replace. I so love these pants!

Greling from California, USA

- Editor's Note: Our last stop in Asia was 14, in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam... Read about it here!

June 28, 2016

26 Stopped Pick-Pocket: Noted Overland Traveler vs. Indian Pick-Pocket

Asia ›   India ›   New Delhi ›  

When Explorers-Club-Member and RCGS-Fellow Ray Hyland decided to recreate the famous First Overland expedition last year from London to Singapore in an original 60-year-old Land Rover, he knew security was going to be a challenge. So Ray turned to our Pick-Pocket Proof Pants to protect him along the way.

"The truck is so old it didn't actually come with door-locks, so I knew I would need to carry all my valuables and documents on my person, at all times."

Ray's expedition was 8 months long, covering 15000 miles through places like India, Turkey, Iran, Myanmar, and Thailand, some advance planning was in order.

"I didn't have room to take much gear, so I chose 2 pairs of convertible Pick-pocket-proof pants, and two pick-pocket-proof dress shirts". This allowed me to keep everything I needed on me, gave me the flexibility to zip the legs off and roll the sleeves up for exploring ruins and street-markets, or to dress a little sharper for when I had interviews at consulates or with government officials."

Did he actually need the pick-pocket-proof clothing during the trip?

"Absolutely, the confidence I felt, not worrying about my money or papers was such a relief I was able to concentrate on other priorities wherever I was. In fact, the one place I felt should have been among the safest, a bank in New Delhi India, was one place where the clothing thwarted a would-be thief. I had placed a small wad of bills plus my Myanmar visa application in a front cargo-pocket while I stood in (a very crowded) line, and when I looked down later I noticed someone had opened the first button, pulled the flap back, but was unable to get to the second, inside button on the pocket. That saved me not only the cash, but also days of hassle if I needed to get a new Visa."

Regarding convenience, Ray added "I've always loved the ease of washing and drying the nylon shirts. I've been able to remove almost any stain, and they dry literally in minutes when I am in the tropics. These are my go-to clothes for almost every adventure."

January 14, 2015

13 Stopped Pick-Pocket: Ho Chi Minh City Encounter

Asia ›   Ho Chi Minh City ›   Vietnam ›  

Dear Clothing Arts

Not only are the travel version of the "Pickpocket-Proof" pants comfortable, but the live up to their name. One evening about 8PM, I was walking south on De Tham Street in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and I was accosted a local, who began to "proposition" me.

She grabbed my right forearm with her right hand, and proceeded to try to get into my zippered pocket with her left hand. NO LUCK! I pushed her away as she tried to get into the cargo pocket. Nothing there. "To Bad, So Sad."

These pants are "cheap" traveler's insurance, when I think about the lost time and the inconvenience I avoided.

Thanks.

Dwight from WA, USA

June 21, 2013

5 Stopped Pick-Pocket: Suspicious Street Vendor in Shanghai, China

Asia ›   China ›   Shanghai ›  

The [street vendor in Shanghai China] attempted to pull the zipper up and get whatever they could from the small opening!! Fortunately the little flap was over the zipper and they could not fully open the pocket!!

- Tom from Utah, USA