Editor's Note: Since today is Valentines Day, we think nothing say love more than a new pair of Pick-Pocket Proof Pants for your trip to the "City of Love" aka the "Unofficial Pick-Pocket Capital of the World!" This testimonial marks your 44th known stopped pick-pocket in Paris alone and your 224th around-the-world... that we know about!

Dear Clothing Arts,

My husband and I just came back from a trip to Paris. I had bought him the Pick Pocket Proof Pants for this trip.

On our second day, on the Metro, a young lady was standing next to my husband. When he moved to give her more room, she moved with him. Next thing he knew, he felt a finger in his pants pocket.

He never felt the zipper coming up, but because of the button flap over the zipper, she could not get it up far enough to take out his wallet. He gave her the stare down, and she got off at the next station. He wore those pants everyday for the next two weeks!

- Cheryl W. from Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

Editor's Note: This is your 6th known stopped pick-pocket in Naples! The photo above was taken by our founder / desiger Adam Rapp on his original travels that inspired the pants Bill G. was wearing during his trip to Naples. His testimonial came in via a Facebook comment.

--- Here Is Our Follow-Up ---

Editor's Note: This is your 35th known stopped pick-pocket in Rome!

Dear Clothing Arts,

I recently purchased your Pick-Pocket Proof Adventure Travel Pants for my vacation to Europe. I want to report a successful pick-pocket stop at the Metro in Rome, which occurred on June 14th.

While in Rome, I boarded the red-line train at the Metro Termini (Train Central Station) to head back to my hotel. The train was mostly full but had a little bit of room to move. I was standing near a door when the train departed. Two women about 25 years old, both dressed in a white Polo with a green collar and green sleeves, approached me, speaking English with a strong Austrian accent. One woman stood on my left side, out of view, while the second one asked me several questions about what direction the train was going and if she was on the right train. She asked if a specific stop was part of the route.

As I turned left to look at the route map over the door, the second woman moved behind me and to my right side. I took a slight step right and felt her hand near my front pocket. Upon feeling that, I checked my pockets to find that the front zipper had been zipped up to under the button flap for both front pockets. The button had not been undone on either side, and the inner zipper remained unzipped. I had my phone in my left front pocket and my wallet and passport in my right front pocket all behind the inner zipper, and lost nothing. I then turned to the women and said, "you didn't get what you were looking for, did you?" They both looked at me in disgust and moved on.

This was at the beginning of my vacation, and the Pick-Pocket Proof Adventure Travel Pants saved a lot of frustration and money. Thank you for making such a great product. They are well worth the investment!

Best regards,

Todd T. from Sioux Falls, South Dakota​

Editor's Note: This is your 33rd & 34th known stopped pick-pockets in Rome! Pick-pocketing is a silent crime and Derek's experience below highlights how easy it is for a pick-pocket to attempt a theft on crowded public transport. Zippered pockets don't move themselves, and combined with Derek's location at the time (a bus in Rome) we have two successful stopped pick-pockets by a single traveler. The pick-pockets noticed that Derek's pants were more secure than everyone else's on the bus, so they simply moved on to the next target. Here is Derek's testimonial...

Dear Clothing Arts,

We have just returned from Italy. While traveling through Rome, we decided to take public transportation. I wore your shorts everywhere.

While riding the bus, I made a point of buttoning the side flap over the front pocket zippers. The buses were crowded, and people were bumping into each other as I stood. On two separate occasions, when I got off the bus, I noticed the zipper had been raised to the height of that flap. I can’t say for certain someone tried to pick-pocket me, but the zipper never raised up on its own any time I wore the shorts.

Afterward, I noticed the little opening at the bottom of the zipper to tuck the zipper head into. From that point forward, I had no further issues, even while riding the bus.  

I have to say, I had never felt more confident walking around Rome. My family’s passports were all in the inner zipper pocket on one side, my wallet in the other side, inner zipper. I kept a small amount of pocket cash for cabs, snacks, etc. in the main part of the pocket, and the credit card I used throughout the trip inside the inner velcroed pocket.    

I work in the film business, and many of my film friends travel to countries with high rates of theft. I have told everyone I know about these shorts.  

Best,
Derek K from Pennsylvania

Editor's Note:  This is your 43rd known stopped pick-pocket in the Paris! We received the testimonial via a ***** Review of our Adventure Traveler Pants.

Editor's Note:  This is your 42nd known stopped pick-pocket in Paris!

Dear Clothing Arts,

My wife and I went to Europe for the first time. Our plan was to spend a month travelling around to Zurich, Lucerne, Paris, Rome, and London. From these main cities we took lots of side trips. Almost all travel was on public transit, including planes, trains, trams, buses, boats and ferries.

We had been successful on the transit in Switzerland the first week and were a little more confident with each trip. We then took the high speed train (pushing 300 kpm) to Paris and managed to make all the connections to the hotel, gaining confidence. On one of the first outing's we headed into the underground maze at Gare de Lyon station with a train number and a destination towards the Eiffel Tower.

As you deal with the ticket kiosk, entry gates, multiple turns and stairways, you loose your sense of direction. We made it to the train platform, however it is very confusing as to which way you need to catch the train. You are by several tracks, the trains come and go in both directions, there are lots of stops listed but you do not know any of them, so that does not help. I knew we needed to go East, but there were no directions listed.

We had discussed the need to appear like a local, to minimize risk, but at this point we were obviously tourists. My wife noticed a train attendant and heads over to ask for help. I followed behind and this must have alerted the team of pick-pockets nearby that we were the easy mark. Pre occupied and confused. The attendant indicated that she spoke no English, and might have been part of the pick pocket team. It was not crowded and no one was close to me at this point. Then came the collision from behind, which knocked me forward, and I think the thief even grabbed me to appear he was keeping me from falling down as he tried to lift my wallet. Timming his apology immediately to make it seem like an accident.

My mind raced. It went into hyper mode. There was no one around me?? How could someone run into me with that much force?? Where did they come from?? I spun around in a split second to face a man who was about a head taller then me, and a crowd of about 4 surrounding him.

Where did these people come from?? Why were they close to me when the station was not crowded by us?? We were not in a line?? PICK POCKETS, THIEFS, GANG?.

While spinning, I felt for my wallet, and felt the lump. My other pockets were also secured, but I had little in them. I immediately began preparations for a fight. Concentrate on the eyes of the attacker, looking right thru him so my vision could monitor the others looking for movement, move in closer to see his reaction. My mind flashed with the thought of being in a French jail for an assault charge, he was bigger and younger than me, he had back up. Should I start swinging, screaming, run, what about my wife? My eyes were about 18 inches from his. What I saw was failure and surprise. His fellow thief's were beginning to disperse and hide their faces. I moved slightly forward and he took off behind them. My Clothing Arts pick-pocket pants saved the day!

Checking my pocket, he got by the first line of defense but not the zipper. It was slightly open so that is what he wanted, but he could not finish the job. The other thief's were probably waiting to get the wallet after he lifted it from me. If he would have got it and passed it off, one of them would have got away with it, and he would have appeared innocent. This was a team, women and men, they were good, I hate to think what would have happened had my wallet been gone when I checked for it. I hope it ruined their day, but in all reality, they most likely ruined the day for someone else.

Those pants paid for themselves, several times over!

The rest of the trip had no additional in your face events..... but as much as we were out their at all the sites, I am sure they were there. Just bought some new Clothing Arts shorts for the next trip.

- Mark R from Eugene, Oregon

Editor's Note:  This is your 22nd known stopped pick-pocket in Barcelona!

Dear Clothing Arts,

Here is my true story!

I was in Barcelona Spain with my wife, daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters. We were boarding a subway, and there wasn't much time to get all 8 of us up the steps. This old guy was coming out with two younger fellows next to him making it difficult for us to get past. I pushed my way in, and the old man (I was in my 70s myself) pushed me back! Not my temperament to let that happen, so I was pushing past him up the steps. We all got in.

When we were in the subway and moving my son-in-law asked, “Didn’t you feel the younger fellow’s hand in your pocket?" Well with the excitement and getting pushed I didn’t feel a thing! But my wallet was inside the zippered secret pocket inside the Clothing Arts pants side pocket opening.

Nothing was lost! Buying more for a trip to Europe!

- Jerry U. from Florence, South Carolina

Editor's Note:  This is your 41st known stopped pick-pocket in Paris!

Dear Clothing Arts,

We just returned from a trip to Europe — Prague to Paris. On July 10th, we were at the Eiffel Tower late to see the lighted French icon. Being it was just a few days away from their National Day celebrations, the place was mobbed. We were packed in (literally shoulder-to-shoulder) which was a pickpocket’s dream. During the whole trip I was wearing your clothes — jeans and travel pants — and that night was a travel pants night.

The lighting event took place, the crowd was awed, and as we were leaving I felt a bump (a bit different than a crowd bump). I felt it a second time and turned to see a young boy (12-14 years old) frustrated that he couldn’t succeed in getting loot. We looked at each other, and I just grinned a bit and kept going. His look was frustrated. The next day a tour guide told me that young people are being used as they won’t be prosecuted if caught.

Thanks for the great travel clothing! It’s comfortable and allows us to really enjoy travel without the worry of losing whatever we are carrying.

- Bob B from Kingsport, TN

Editor's Note:  This is your 5th known stopped pick-pocket in Madrid. Dave's testimonial came from a follow-up on his ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review of the Business Travel Shirts.

Dear Clothing Arts,

I didn't mention it, but I was wearing one of your shirts in Madrid, when was pickpocketed. All they got was an envelope of sales receipts from my pants pocket- my wallet with cash and credit card and passport safely in my shirt.

Thought you might add this to your "saves" tally.

Thanks,

Dave K from San Luis Obispo, California

Here is Dave's Review of the Business Travel Shirts:

Editor's Note: This is your 40th known stopped pick-pocket in Paris!! John P.'s testimonial came to us by way of a 5* review of our Cubed Travel Jacket. This is the second stopped pick-pocket by a traveler wearing the jacket.