Editor's Note: This is the first time one of our pants have encountered a cutpurse using a knife / razor. We do believe that attempts have been made before, but since our pockets are designed to be cut-resistant, they left empty-handed, without disturbing the person wearing the pants enough to notice.

Dear Clothing Arts,

I purchased two Pick-Pocket Proof Pants before traveling to France in late September 2019 so I could alternate between washing and wearing each pair over several days during the trip. During our time in Avignon, someone had cut-out one of the buttons from the left-back pocket of one pair of pants.

-- We followed up with Ed via email & here are more details on how it happened --

Yes, I do think the pocket stopped a pick-pocket from easily opening the pocket and glad you designed two buttons for each back pocket (and each side pocket). Although I had nothing in the back pockets, they were zipped, snapped, and buttoned closed and looked a little bulky with contents.

Unfortunately, I cannot give you exact details on how it happened, only that it happened on day two of our stay in Avignon. That day, we took the train to Arles, went to several sites and restaurants, and walked throughout the city, then took the train back to Avignon. I wore the pants on days one and two and kept my cell, cards, and money in both front pockets under second and third levels of security. At the end of day two, I removed front pocket items and threw pants into dirty clothing pile to be washed on day four. I wore the second pair on days three and four. On the morning of day five, I put-on the washed the first pair and started placing contents into both front pockets when my wife noticed one button missing from the left-back pocket. Upon closer inspection, we discovered the button had been cut clean from the thread. Of course, we were alarmed, but I was more secured by continuing alternate wearing of each pair and kept all contents in front pockets remainder of the trip.

Unfortunately, the use of a razor, knife, or other sharp object is not new to pick-pockets. Upon return to the US, we heard first-hand from friends and co-workers of losses from purse and camera bag straps being cut and even bottom of the purse being cut while worn in a crowded situation.

- Ed W. from Davis, California.

Editor's Note: This is your 32nd stopped pick-pocket in the city. Paris extends its lead over Rome to 5 stops as the "Unofficial" Pick-Pocket Capital of the World. This story was sent to us via Facebook & we received an update via email.

Dear Clothing Arts,

My husband and I had just boarded the RER at Gare du Nord in Paris, returning from a week in Lille. The train was crowded and as we boarded, a man reached to help my husband with his suitcase. Husband shook his head “no”, and at the same time felt a hand on his back pocket. Classic distraction pick.

Both men jumped off just as the doors closed and went in search of an easier victim.

My husband always thinks he is too aware to be caught by a pickpocket, and wears these pants to spare himself my nagging (he carries most of our cash). I think this made him a believer.

- Kathy Y. from Anchorage, Alaska

Editor's Note: This your 11th & 12th overall stop in Athens and the second multi-stopped pick-pocket on a single train ride in the city. After reading the below testimonial, check out the previous Quadruple stopped pick-pockets #92/93/94/95!

Dear Clothing Arts,

I bought my husband a pair of your Pick-Pocket Proof Pants for his birthday in early October. We were going on a cruise that started in Athens and ended in Barcelona. The pants more than paid for themselves the first time he wore them on the Athens metro on a busy Saturday night.

My husband initially thought I was a bit paranoid, but he was really glad he had your pants on when he survived 2 pickpocket attempts on the same night on a crowded subway in Athens. On the first subway ride, the thief was able to get 2 rear buttons undone, but not the zipper. After securing all of his pockets and transferring trains, a second thief got one rear button undone as well as the button on the right front pocket. The thief actually had his hand in my husband's front pocket but came away empty-handed because he couldn’t get the zipper or Velcro undone. The pants paid for themselves in a single subway ride!

We didn’t have any close encounters in Barcelona, but we were prepared.

Thanks for a great product!

Joyce W. from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Dear Clothing Arts,

While getting on a bus from Palermo to Monreale last year, I had the good experience of not getting pickpocketed. Three men had blocked me in so it wasn’t possible to get my arm down, while one was trying to get my right pocket open. Fortunately, my wallet and phone were secure in the pockets of my Clothing Arts Pants.

Having traveled extensively in Italy, I now realize that one is much safer to keep your Clothing Arts clothes on, rather than leaving them behind, even in a locked hotel room. Alas, I left my new Cubed Jacket in the locked hotel room, since the weather in Venice wasn’t cold enough to wear it, but didn’t think to remove my passport and money. Returning after 6 hours, the door was locked, but the Cubed Jacket was gone along with my passport and money. I loved the Cubed Jacket, and my three month trip to Italy from mid-Oct to mid-Jan was my first use. I have five pairs of the slacks and love them well enough to wear them at home in Asheville. I have recommended them to friends, who have also bought them. You need to advertise more widely. Best travel clothes, ever.

- Richard N. from Asheville, North Carolina.

Editor's Note: This is your 31st known stopped pick-pocket in Paris!

Dear Clothing Arts,

I just got to Paris coming from Colmar via Gare de L’Est. I transferred from the TGV to the Metro line 4 to head to St. Germaine. As I got into the metro car a large guy in front of me kept blocking me as I tried to head for a wall or other safe space with my roll-aboard suitcase. He was grabbing at my right front pocket but didn’t get anything as it was zipped closed. It was sufficiently obvious at that point what he was doing that people in the vicinity started to comment and he got off the train before the doors closed.

The pants just paid for themselves, because even though I have backups of everything, it would have caused a huge hassle to file police reports and cancel cards.  

Thanks Clothing Arts.  

Lachlan C. from Seattle, Washington

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

Dear Clothing Arts,

I've been all over Spain (including Barcelona), Budapest, Prague, Australia, London and now Vienna wearing your pants, and this is the first time I think anyone has made an attempt. I feel confident that by wearing your pants I'm not the easiest target in the crowd and they reduce the pick-pocket attempts.

I hate wearing those under the clothes pouches that force you to get semi-undressed to get your money and/or passport out. I'm not a prude but that just seems crude. That's why I have 2 pairs of pick-pocket-proof cargo pants!

Last week I was in Vienna and St. Stephan's Cathedral was quite crowded, mobbed with tourists and tour bus passengers. My passport was in the back pocket protected by a zipper, a flap, another zipper, another flap, and two buttons. I was leaning to hear my wife read from a guide book describing the features of the church when I felt something lightly rubbing on my passport pocket, I turned quickly and a dark-haired man zoomed away. Was this an attempt? I suspect so.

Thanks.

Bob N. from Fort Pierce, Florida, a two-time customer (and about to be a third)

Editor's Note: This is your 17th known stopped pick-pocket in Barcelona. Since only one was confirmed, we will count the following testimonial as a single stop.

Dear Clothing Arts,

My husband Ivan stopped one known pick-pocket while walking in Barcelona. He had his valuables in the cell phone pocket and the thief only got through the flap and zip.

Possibly another pick-pocket was stopped on the Metro.

- Kay & Ivan W. from Shreveport, Louisiana

Editor's Note: This is your third stopped pick-pocket in London.

Dear Clothing Arts,

Another testimonial…

A group of us were in London doing a recording of the Handel Messiah with the Royal Philharmonic at Abbey Road Studios. We had to take the tube from our lodging at Imperial College to the Studios. As we were getting on a (very) packed tube and I felt someone touch my pants pocket. We were all pushed into the tube, and once we were on I found the buttons undone on my rear pocket, and the outside zipper was also undone – but the thief could not make it into the inner zipper, which is where my wallet was. A close call, but the pants worked great!

Scott W. from Spokane, Washington

Editor's Note: This is your 30th known stopped pick-pocket in Paris!!!

Dear Clothing Arts,

Before my first vacation to Europe I purchased the pick proof adventure pants, my wife thought I was nuts for doing that. That was until the night of Aug 25th, 2019 around 11 pm, my wife and I got on a crowded bus in Paris from the Eiffel Tower.

A group of people got between my wife and I and I was sandwiched between a couple of guys. An attempt was made to get onto my back pocket of my pick proof adventure pants. I felt the person try to get the button undone of my back pocket, where I was keeping a wallet with nothing in it but receipts of souvenirs and food purchases the real wallet was in my front pocket behind the 3 layer protection.

When I reached back and touched the hand I asked, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING???" The lady that was trying to open the button quickly moved away with the help of her friends, and at the next stop got off. My wife was a skeptic about the pants until that happened, now she is suggesting I purchase some more.

Thanks!! These pants saved our vacation.

- Larry and Melanie D. from Grand Rapids, Michigan

Editor's Note: This is your 16th known stopped pick-pocket in Barcelona.

​Dear Clothing Arts,

Thanks for speeding up my order and getting it to me before my Europe trip. I spent a week in Paris logging 165,000 steps with my wife...no issues with pickpockets. My 3rd week in Barcelona, taking the D50 bus, a pickpocket starting working me.

The situation was a bus so crowded it took about 4 minutes to squeeze everyone on. The guy behind me looked clean and groomed, but a little shifty. I kept an eye on him when I could, but we were tight and jostled by the bus maneuvering. My hands checked my pockets and found my button undone on my front right pocket. I refastened it, then minutes later found the zipper beneath had been zipped up until it hit the re-buttoned protective cross flap. Strike two buddy!

I started eyeing him closer, bearing my gaze down on him. He uncomfortably moved a few people away further into the bus, passing the pay machine without contributing. He hung around a couple, then moved further next to a second couple. After about 3 fairly short stops I watched him exit, depositing a small black purse under his opposite armpit into an over the shoulder bag; his back to me only a few feet from the bus. Looking up and down the street first, he strode off smartly.

Everything happened so fast and I was always questioning whether I had left something undone, but I had spent the whole day obsessively checking. When he tried twice I knew the zipper had been moved. My friends confirmed they had been eyeing him and coming to the same conclusion.

While he was able to get away with someone’s wallet, I’m thankful to your company that it was not mine!

- Joe C. from North Carolina, USA​