June 07, 2015

17 Stopped Pick-Pocket: French Train Station Stop

Europe ›   France ›   Nice ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

My wife and I were on a trip to southern France recently. It was my first trip wearing my new P3 pants. I kept my wallet & passport in the left cargo pocket (snap + buttons) and my iPhone in the right cargo pocket.

As we were boarding a train at a small station one stop beyond the main station at Nice, I felt a small tug at the left pocket. I instinctively slapped at the hand as I turned around to see a young woman and a male companion looking at me as if to say “How dare you foil our attempt to pick your pocket!”.

That one incident made the purchase price worth every penny. Beyond that, I have to say that the pants were very comfortable. I wore them every day and rinsed them out only once.

Regards,

Bob from Indiana, USA

May 21, 2015

15 & 16th Stopped Pick-Pocket by One Traveler in Athens!

Athens ›   Europe ›   Greece ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

We were traveling in Greece and Turkey in October, 2014. This was my first trip with my new ClothingArts slacks. Two pick-pocket attempts were foiled in Athens.

The first was in a crowd listening to street music, where I was quite mindful of possible pick-pockets. A young child first "bumped" into me right at my back pocket level, followed shortly by another pressure against the same pocket, apparently from an adult I saw walking away. The concealed zipper on the slacks seemed to been a significant deterrent there.

The second attempt was on a crowded Athens subway. I knew it was coming. As my wife and I stood in the car I watch five men make their way down the car, with one selling Kleenex as a distraction. They stopped around me, but didn't get off at that station. As several of the men were pressed up against me, I could then feel the zipper on my front pocket being pulled - the pocket where I kept my wallet. Fortunately the wallet was inside the second velcro enclosure inside the pocket, and our stop was next, so I said "excuse me" and pushed towards the door. The men would not even move out of the way for my wife and I, but we shoved our way out the door with all our valuables in tact.

Thanks for the extra protection of these slacks. - Bill from California

February 12, 2015

14 Stopped Pick-Pocket: Athens Metro Pick-Pocket Team

Athens ›   Europe ›   Greece ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

I knew I would be a good pick-pocket target in Europe. On the Athens Metro, Acropolis station stop, there are a lot of tourists because of the Parthenon Temple above. I remember the station was crowded as usual. When I was aboard the train, I could feel someone touch my front pocket, but I wasn't aware of exactly what was happening because it was so crowded. After the train door closed, one guy touched my shoulder and tried to talk to me: "Do you know English?"

I didn't reply to him and pretended I didn't understand. At the same moment, I could feel movement in my front pocket. When I looked down, someone touched my shoulder again and asked, "This station?"

I looked at him and immediately looked down at my front pocket. I saw another guy was using his finger and trying to open my pocket. Of course, he failed. I slapped his hand and looked right at him. He looked so confused and embarrassed!

At the same time, we arrived at my destination. Before I left the train, I pointed to the two guys and yelled "thief." The door closed and everyone was staring at them.

Thanks for the great pants!

Bill from CA, USA

Photo: Bill & Clothing Arts owner/designer Adam Rapp at the San Francisco Travel & Adventure Show right after Bill told us about the stopped pick-pocket!

September 19, 2014

12 Stopped Pick-Pocket: St. Peter's Basilica, Rome

Europe ›   italy ›   Rome ›  

Dear Clothing Arts

Just thought I would tell you of a recent experience in St. Peter's basilica in Rome.

Huge crowd and I felt a person pushing against me and trying to undo the back pocket of the Adventure Pants.

She failed and when I confronted her, she slunk away with an abject apology and a very embarrassed expression on her face!

Not that there was anything of value in the pocket, except a map of Rome!

Thanks for the great product!

John from Australia

July 11, 2014

10 Stopped Pick-Pocket: Rome Metro #4

Europe ›   italy ›   Rome ›  

Review taken from one of our major customer's website

October 10, 2013

8 Stopped Pick-Pocket: Button Flaps Outsmart Roman Thief

Europe ›   italy ›   Rome ›  

Dear Clothing Arts Team,

We just returned from a trip to Europe, including stops in Italy, France and Spain.  Your pants performed wonderfully and foiled at least one attempt in Rome.

Your clothing fits well and the pockets and flaps are well thought out.

Regards,

Marty from Texas, USA

August 15, 2013

6 Stopped Pick-Pocket: Rome Metro #3

Europe ›   italy ›   Rome ›  

Gentlemen,

You were right about your pickpocket proof convertible pants. They were indeed awesome and I am sure they prevented me from losing my wallet on one particular day on the Metro in Rome. Either that, or someone was playing with my backside. With the two pairs of pants, I wore one pair one day while the other was drying out from being washed the night before. They always looked great.

Don from Texas

June 17, 2013

4 Stopped Pick-Pocket: Rome Metro #2

Europe ›   italy ›   Rome ›  

Email titled, "They Really Work!!"

When I first ordered my P^3 Adventure pants for a trip to Italy in late May, I wondered if I was being a bit paranoid for spending $100+ for a pair of Pickpocket Proof pants. One ride on the Rome subway system (Metro) alleviated any concern I might have had. Your pant possibly saved my passport and a "fake" wallet I hid in my left hip pocket.

After a seven-day cruise along the Amalfi Coast, we were returned to the Rome airport and decided to use Rome's highly touted rail and metro system to travel to our bed and breakfast.

The rail trip to Rome's main termini was uneventful and when we reached our subway platform there were only a few other people waiting for the train.

Then, just as the train arrived, a swarm of hundreds of people pushed onto the platform standing 10-15 feet along the track. When the doors opened the mob surged toward the train carrying my wife and me along with it. We were pushed on board the car And I was jammed against a stand post so tightly I could barely breathe.

It was a perfect situation for pickpockets and I was alert. The train departed the station and within seconds I felt fingers fumbling with the left flap button on my left hip pocket. I was holding onto the stand post with my left arm fully extended and a 35-pound camera pack on my back had me wedged against people so that I could not turn to pull away from the thief. I could only turn my head to look and faced tree people close enough to reach my pocket...one a dark-skinned fairly nicely dressed woman with shoulder length ugly straight red hair; the second, a shorter, expressionless Italian man who was looking past me and the third, a pleasant black-haired woman who appeared to be with three nuns who had managed to get seats.

The fumbling stopped when I looked but resumed instantly when I turned away. My right arm was pinned against my body and I was holding onto the stand post with my left arm. The only thing I could do was let go...so that's what I did. Just as I did, the train lurched. I thought the crowd would hold me up, but somehow I went down. Then, because of the backpack and crowd pressure, I had a hard time getting up until I was helped up by the expressionless Italian behind me. His expression never changed. Once up, I thanked him then spotted the red haired woman in front of me, standing between me and my wife who was holding onto the other side of the stand post.

I checked my rear pocket and the left side of the flap was unbuttoned but the zipper was closed. I caught the eye of my wife and said, "pickpocket"; fairly loudly. When I did the woman with red hair whirled her head around and gave me a killer look of hatred...probably because she had been foiled by my P/3 pants.

I realize this story is way too long for a testimonial but I wanted you to know about it and to thank you for producing these pants. I really didn't expect to need them but I think they did their job. Had she gotten into my pocket, all she would have gotten was an old throw-away wallet with some expired membership cards that look like credit cards. Still, beneath that was my passport. But she never came close to any of those items.

Finally, I want to say that when I first received my pants, I immediately was impressed by the quality and softness of the fabric. I think it was the softness that allowed me to feel the fumbling with the button when the incident started. These pants are worth the cost for both the quality and the peace of mind they provide. Thank you for making them available.

Ernest from Florida

May 08, 2013

3 Stopped Pick-Pocket: Rome Metro #1

Europe ›   italy ›   Rome ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

Thanks, Adam for the help on these pants, to get the right fit!

At first my husband complained about all the buttons but then...

We were in Rome when the pickpockets hit on the tube. One friend lost his new iPhone. My husband's phone was safe in the cargo pocket. They got one button open, but were thwarted by the other button and snap! Yeah!

Thanks again - worth every penny and they look great.

Armin from Texas

April 05, 2013

1 Stopped Pick-Pocket: Roman Children Attempt Theft On The Metro

Europe ›   italy ›   Rome ›  

We were in the subway in Rome and the girls came up next to me and attempted to get into my pockets. There were 3 children, approx 10 years old. They moved my shirt away from my pants and attempted to get into the right side of my pants.

Since I had the zipper closed and the flap over it, they couldn't' get it. As they were trying to get into my pockets, other people on the train noticed that something was happening. A local Italian man yelled and one of the ladies from my tour group also noticed what was going on. This happened right as we were pulling into a station right after the people yelled. The doors opened and the three children ran right out of the train like they were shot out of a cannon!

You know there's no way there were getting in my pants!

- Edna from Florida