Not Quite a Stopped Pick-Pocket, Not Quite a Typical Travel Day...

Editor's Note: Sometimes pick-pockets and would be pick-pockets are simply deterred by our travelwear and not actually caught red-handed. We refer to these as honorable mentions. Here are our honorable mentions for 2017.

Venice Vaporetto Deterrence!

Hands Sculpture on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy

Dear Clothing Arts,

Prior to our trip from California to Italy, I purchased 3 pairs of Clothing Arts Pick-Pocket Proof Pants. I wore them everywhere as I felt secure and they were very comfortable.

I was traveling in Venice on a Vaporetto (water bus) on my way to the train station from my hotel. I was obviously a tourist as I had my luggage and a backpack with me. The Vaporetto was very crowded with people standing very close to each other, which was prime for pick-pockets.

I looked over at two young men standing next to me and they were speaking Italian which I didn't understand, but I did understand they were talking about me when one of the men nodded to the other then he pointed to my pants. He said (in Italian) something then pulled his shirt down to cover his pockets. They both laughed. He pointed to me and my pants and shook his head to his friend. They both laughed again.

While there was no attempt at being pick-pocketed, I believe the appearance of these pants stopped any potential attempt. I'm sure these guys have done this before.

A couple days later I was entering the Ufizzi Gallery in Florence. Security scanned me and said "what's in your pocket?". After opening the clasp, the zipper and the Velcro ( and slowing down the line), I pulled out my wallet. She then asked what was in my other pocket, and I told her it was another wallet for my US dollars. She didn't want me to go through the same slow process so she just rolled her eyes and waved me through.

The pants are great and comfortable, but one has to remember to use all the safety features...keep them on the inside pocket protected by either Velcro or the zipper plus use the outside zipper AND the flap closure.

- Bill from California, USA

Fanny Pack Thief in Barcelona!

Dear Clothing Arts,

When I was in Barcelona in 2014 I had my wallet and valuables in my p^cubed pants and was wearing an additional frontal fanny pack with sunglasses and tissues in it. My wife and I were on a local train when I realized there was a man's hand in my fanny pack. He did not get anything. I guess he was intimidated by my p^cubed pants and went for what he thought would be easier pickings. I just ordered a pair of shorts for our SE Asia trip. Thanks for your clever inventiveness!

- Jay from Niguel, CA

Infamous Roman #64 Bus Route Bandit Blocked!

Dear Clothing Arts,

I was in Rome in mid December 2017 and didn't go a day during our eight-day visit without my nylon Clothing Arts Travel Pants. In my previous visits to the Eternal City, the possibility of encountering a pick-pocket was always in the back of my mind. With my new pants, I was able to enjoy my vacation with added leisure.

My story is not about a thwarted pickpocket, but about how my brother will likely be a future Clothing Arts customer. There are two places in Rome that are on the notorious pickpocket list: Termini train station and the 64 bus. My brother and I and other family members were waiting at a 64 bus stop when a crowded bus pulled up. We waited until our other family members were on the bus before we squeezed in. As we jostled for room, a small woman jumped on the bus next to my brother and sister-in-law. The female would-be thief first attempted to unzip my sister-in-law's purse. When my sister-in-law protested, the woman moved and in a moment had her sights on my brother, who was wearing jeans and had his wallet in his hand in his front right pocket. That didn't matter. In a flash the young woman slipped her small hand in his front pocket – even as he was holding his wallet! My brother, who is three times her size, grabbed her arm and shoved her out of the bus. This all happened before the doors closed!

For peace of mind I highly recommend buying at least one pair of Clothing Arts pants. It's much cheaper than the loss of a credit card or a wallet full of cash.

- Chris from Wichita, Kansas

The Hassan Tower (Tour Hassan) In Rabat, Morocco

Editor's Note: This story comes to us via a 5 star review on our Pick-Pocket Proof® Adventure Travel Pants. The pants were given to William as a gift before he left for a semester abroad. It goes to show that it pays to be prepared. We are thrilled to hear that giving the gift of travel security helped save William's experience in Morocco and gave him peace of mind as he traveled through numerous countries. Check out the full review below!

Walking up to The Santa Justa Lift in Lisbon, Portugal

Editor's Note: This is our second stop in Lisbon! Check out the first one (stop #62) here!

Dear Clothing Arts,

Four couples were in Lisbon, Portugal in October of this year. We were walking through the streets just past the city elevator, the Santa Justa Lift, when I noticed someone touching the back of my pants. I quickly turned to find a young man with a city map in his left hand opened to hide his right hand. He had tried to open my left rear pocket and steal my passport with his right hand. I smiled and moved away from him. He stopped, looked frustrated and turned 180 degrees and walked away without looking at his map.

I can understand his frustration – I find it difficult to securely zip and button my rear pocket. And that’s a good thing! When I travel I always wear Clothing Arts pick picket proof pants. Always!

- Bill from South Carolina, USA

View Of Barcelona from Parc Guell

Editor's Note: This is our 6th and 7th stop in Barcelona! The only cities with higher pick-pocket counts are Rome and Paris.

Dear Clothing Arts,

The check-in clerk reminded me that I should keep my wallet in a front pocket. Since I had my wallet safely secured in my left rear pocket I did not move it. I had two attempts to get at the wallet. Not one of them looked back at me after he tried. Both attempts occurred while on the steps. Once walking down stairs (I saw him after the attempt), and once walking up stairs. I felt fingers sliding along the zipper both times. Had pants buttoned also.

- Jim from Minnesota, USA

St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square in Moscow, Russia

Editor's Note: This is our third stop in Russia and our first in Moscow!

Chuck recently called in to let us know about his stopped pick-pocket experience. Here is his story told to our Founder/Designer Adam:

"We were on a Viking River Boat tour of Russia and had just arrived in Moscow. On our first day there, we went to Red Square, and their annual fall festival was going on. Sculptures were depicting the season like giant pumpkins, and interestingly, a surfboard tank was set up. We walked up to watch the surfers in that tank, and my wife was standing with me on my left side. I felt something tug on my left front pocket and turned around to see what was going on. All of a sudden, someone behind me in line rushed ahead to get away. The button flap had stopped him!

He was able to get the zipper down up to the flap to get a few fingers in but couldn’t get the button flap opened before I noticed what was happening. As soon as I did, he was gone.

I had about $200 in the pocket, and it was held together by a money clip, but he couldn’t get the clip out. When he tried to pull it free, it wouldn’t fit through with the flap still there and that altered me.

My wife was standing on that side, and she felt him bump her as he tried to pull away. This alerted her to someone trying to pick my pockets as well. She watched with me as he disappeared into the crowd ahead."

- Chuck from California, USA

The Arc de Triomf in Barcelona, Spain

Editor's Note: This is our 5th stop in Barcelona, making the metropolis our 3rd highest ranking city for pick-pocketing incidents after Rome & Paris.

Dear Clothing Arts,

I only wear your Pick-Pocket Proof Pants when we travel abroad. The investment was justified when a pick pocket was foiled in Barcelona last week in a very weird episode.

My wife and I were walking down a cross street in a business/residential area when suddenly a white liquid hit us on the back of our heads and our backs. Of course we thought it had fallen or was thrown from above us.   As we were still in a shocked state, a man appeared who very kindly offered to help us get dried off.   He offered to take us to his apartment just down the block. Naively we followed him. When we were in the entryway, he conveniently pulled out paper towels and started patting us down. After he had patted my wife down, he moved to me. Suddenly, he was patting my wallet pocket a bit too thoroughly. I whirled around and he took off running.  

Lights of awareness came on in our heads. As we exited the entry, we saw that the man had stuffed paper in the lock to be able to use someone else's apartment. He had the buttons undone on my pocket, but the zipper protected my wallet. It cost fifteen euros to have our clothes cleaned, to get what smelled like sour milk out of our clothes. My Pick-Pocket Proof Pants saved my wallet--and our vacation.

- Ben from Virginia, USA

Photos Taken By Mike In Rome!

Dear Clothing Arts,

I always watch TV food shows for the best places to eat before traveling. Going to Rome was no different. After a long day of tours in St. Peter's Basilica and the Museum, I looked forward to my walk around to the backside of the Vatican to a highly recommended pizza place. The place was packed and by the time my order was ready I found that someone had been working on my right front pocket. Originally, I had the zipper down with the tab inside and the fold over button flap secured yet only the zipper was moved up to that flap - I didn't feel a thing! It wasn't the 30 or so Euros I had in that first pocket but the 1600 Euros in the interior zipped pocket I was happy to find intact. These pants do exactly what they claim. I've since purchased the jacket, another pair of pants and the shorts. Great product. I would highly recommend.

- Mike from Utah, USA

Dear Clothing Arts,

My wife and I were in the train station in Lisbon. As I rode up the escalator to the platform, I felt something brush against my leg. I immediately turned and a man was passing me on the escalator. He offered an apology and blamed his red bag for brushing up against me. I thought no more of it. A while later, we were again going up the escalator and I felt a tug on my pants leg. I turned and the same man was passing me. I told my wife loudly that he had just tried to pick my pocket. He ran away. I notice that my right cargo pocket was unbuttoned, but my passport and wallet were still zipped inside thanks to my pickpocket proof pants!

- William from Georgia, USA

 
Hi Clothing Arts,

Finally getting around to the testimonial I've owed you for a few years.

Background:

A month-long trip through Europe and Morocco. Many airports, trains and train stations, subways and subway stations, city buses, tour buses, ferries, crowded tourist sites, city streets, small towns, big cities. Made it through big cities with pickpocket problems like Rome and Paris with no apparent problems (though I wonder if someone tried in those cities but I just didn't notice.) All in all a great trip but I had two "stops" on that trip:

Incident #1 - Madrid

One late night we got out of a show and headed for the subway to go back to the hotel. A couple other events let out at the same time and the subway hallways were suddenly overwhelmed with people. Big crowds waited for particular train lines. We shuffled in and out of the subway cars as a group. Suddenly I felt a smooth, faint pull on my right rear pocket. I immediately reached back but the person's hand was gone. I turned around but had no way of knowing who among the dozens of people could be the perpetrator. Luckily, I had the rear pocket double-protected with the zipper and the buttons and I didn't lose anything. The thief obviously realized what he was dealing with and moved on to greener pastures. It was a weird feeling which followed-- I was angry that someone would try to steal from me, but at the same time almost giddy that planning ahead and buying PPP pants saved me money and problems.

Incident #2 - Agadir, Morocco

I was visiting friends in a small town in southern Morocco and was traveling up to Marrakesh. To do this, I had to take a local taxi to a large taxi station in Agadir, and there transfer to another taxi which could take me to the bus station, which then would take me to Marrakesh. As I found a cab at the taxi station I was approached by two men who began begging me for money. One of the men became very aggressive, came very close to me and began shouting at me to give him money. As I opened the taxi door and was getting into the car he became even more aggressive and forcefully grabbed for my wallet which was in the front right pocket of my PPP pants. I had my wallet double-protected with zipper and button and he grabbed the outline of my wallet through the pant material and began yanking upward. A quick, hard elbow sent him sprawling backward and I jumped into the cab and we sped away. My pocket held tight and had no damage. If I had regular pants on I would have definitely lost my wallet. Incidentally, my wallet only had money in it. I usually separated my important things- I kept my cards in the smaller pocket inside the front pocket and I kept my passport in what I call the "secret back pocket" aka " passport pocket".

So thanks very much for a great product. I never travel
foreign or domestic, short or long without at least one pair of PPP pants and one pair of PPP shorts. I recommend them often to people during travel discussions. I haven't tried the shirts or jacket but I will get to them one day.

Thank you,

Scott from Hawaii, USA
 

Editor's Note: It's a common trick for pick-pockets to stake out ATM's around the world, especially in tourist-prone areas. We suggest using enclosed ATM's when possible and storing your cash in your double and triple secure pockets.

Dear Clothing Arts,

This was in Florence Italy. I had gone to the ATM. I put the money in the hidden pocket and then zipped both pockets. A few hours later I discovered that my outer pocket was unzipped, I never felt a thing but my Euros were safely inside the inner hidden pocket. A HUGE sigh of relief waved over me!

Thank you!!!

- Jo from California, USA

Jo and her husband both wearing their Pick-Pocket Proof Pants on their trip!