April 13, 2023

228th Stopped Pick-Pocket: No Dice In Buenos Aires!

Argentina ›   Buenos Aires ›   South America ›  

Editor's Note: This is your first known stopped pick-pocket in Argentina and came to us via a Facebook comment.

December 27, 2022

220th Stopped Pick-Pocket: She Said Yes, He Said No In Quito!

Ecuador ›   Quito ›   South America ›  

Editor's Note: This is your 3rd known stopped pick-pocket in Ecuador!

Dear Clothing Arts,

My husband and I are currently in Ecuador. We were accosted by pickpockets. My husband, who I could not convince to order a pair of you pants, had his wallet stolen. My wallet and passport were safe in my pants pocket.

Best purchase ever! I told him when we get home, he's getting a pair.

Pat B. from Everett, Washington

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

Dear Clothing Arts,

We were in the historic part of Quito, Ecuador. We had just left The Basilica and were heading down to two more historic churches. All of a sudden a woman turns to my husband and says "Look you've got something on you!" He looks and he's covered in goo.

A man appeared behind me and turned me around. All of a sudden I had goo on me. My husband's wallet was gone that quickly but my wallet and passport was secure in my clothing arts pick proof pockets.

He's getting a pair of pants or the shirt for our next trip to Israel in April.

Pat B.

October 04, 2022

213th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Bolivian Team Blocked From Stealing My iPhone!

Bolivia ›   South America ›  

Editor's Note:  This is your 1st known stopped pick-pocket in Bolivia. Jonathan was wearing one of his three pairs of our Adventure Traveler Pants.

Dear Clothing Arts,

Good afternoon. Your pants saved my iPhone 12X Max Pro in Bolivia. I was at the market on a busy Sunday with my Clothing Arts pants on. iPhone tucked away safely, cash in the pocket buttoned up and zipped, and away I went.

I have traveled to 34 countries and never had an issue. Bolivia was the end of that streak!

In the Mercado, I was in a narrow section, and the crowd acted as a “funnel” channeling shoppers to the most narrow section. That’s where it happened. An older Bolivian woman stepped on my left foot. Ouch!

I thought it was inadvertent, but as I tried to move my she stepped down harder. Her accomplice, a Bolivian man, was attempting to unbutton my pocket to get the phone. Still unaware of what was going on, my girlfriend who was ten feet away saw what was happening and started toward me. She yelled my name, and it was then I realized what was happening. Off into the crowd, the pickpockets went. Saves my day and my phone.

Thank you!

- Jonathan T. from Albuquerque, New Mexico

April 21, 2020

177th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Theft and Save in Quito, Ecuador

Ecuador ›   Quito ›   South America ›  

Editor's Note: This is your third known stop in Quito & also the third confirmed stop by a pair of Women's Travel Pants.

Dear Clothing Arts,

I was in Quito, Ecuador in October 2019. I was wearing a pair of your pants with my cash, credit cards and passport tucked securely in the pockets.

Unfortunately, I was wearing a jacket with zipped side pockets. I was riding the TeleferiQo, a mountain cable car. It was crowded but I felt secure.

When we arrived on the other side both of my jacket pockets were unzipped. I never felt a thing! No one even seemed close enough to me to accomplish such a bold act. Luckily, I only lost my RayBan sunglasses, prescription (dang it), and some tourist site tickets.

Thanks Clothing Arts!

- Joanie J. from North Carolina

October 17, 2019

156th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Robbed at Knifepoint in Quito, Ecuador!

Ecuador ›   Quito ›   South America ›  

Editor's Note:  Pick-Pocket Proof®️ Designs create barriers to entry that make it harder and more time consuming to get into your pockets. In this testimonial, we see that extra time in action. The trio Ben encountered could not get into his pockets in time and as such, we will count it as the 156th known stopped pick-pocket.

Dear Clothing Arts,

I have a great testimonial about how these pants helped me during a robbery. I was traveling in Quito, Ecuador. One night, I made the poor decision to go up a dark flight of stairs in a park at night.

On the stairs, I encountered three young men. When I passed them, one jumped in front in front of me and pulled out a large knife. He held the knife to my chest while the other two men began patting me down in search of valuables. I put my hands up and let them search me. They were in a rush and bolted off within a few seconds. They took my cheap backpack, but they left something more valuable behind...

I had been carrying $70 USD in the front zippered pocket of my Clothing Arts pants. The robbers were in too much of a hurry to get the zipper pocket open, so they failed to find the cash. So there I was...I had just been robbed at knifepoint, but I still had $70 cash in my front pocket thanks to Clothing Arts' design. I love these pants and highly recommend them to anyone.

- Ben M, California, USA.

October 08, 2019

154th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Bogota Bus Pick-Pocket Blocked!

Bogota ›   Colombia ›   South America ›  

Editor's Note: This is your second stopped pick-pocket in Colombia!

Dear Clothing Arts,

Love your products have worn them all over the world and to the racetrack here in the US. A pretty good kid pickpocket in Bogota, Colombia, last January was able to open back buttons on a crowded bus but not the zipper.. Keep it up.

My good stuff (cash/ credit card) were in front pockets of cargo pants, they weren’t going anywhere.

I just put a paper map in the back pocket to see if the famous Bogota bus pickpockets could get it. Kid was good. Got the buttons opened but the zipper made him give up.

John T. from New York, USA.

July 05, 2018

82nd Stopped Pick-Pocket: Lima Market Team Bumps & Grabs Zip

Lima ›   Peru ›   South America ›  

Editor's Note: This is stop #2 in Lima, Peru!

​Dear Clothing Arts,

I HAVE ONLY HAD THEM 2 WEEKS...

My wife decided that I needed some pick pocket proof pants. I disagreed, as we have traveled the world for years without any problems.

That being said on 02-22-18 I received my shorts in the mail. On 03-11-18 I found myself in Lima Peru at the Minka marketplace. When we arrived the market was uncrowded, we were in a group of about 20 people and even a security guard assigned to keep an eye on us. But as the market gets very busy it is almost impossible to move a group through a large crowd. As I take many pictures I also tend to either get out in front of the group or behind.

I was lagging behind when a little old lady ran her shopping card into my leg causing me to stop abruptly and turn to my left to see what happened. As I did,a young man ran into the back of me. The little old lady never missed a step and never looked at me and speed off. As I turned to see who had run into me a young boy about 16 to 18 with his head down took off running the other way. I would have never caught him at all.

By the time I realized what had even happened it was over. Pick Pocket proof shorts 1 - Pickpocket 0

My wife said later that I had the pants only two weeks and they had paid for themselves many times over. And the slacks are on order.

Ron from Nevada, USA

PS: I have received the slacks already and they are awesome.
 

January 29, 2018

73rd Stopped Pick-Pocket: Carterista Blocked in Cartagena, Colombia

Cartegena ›   Colombia ›   South America ›  

Street shot of Cartagena with the Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Santa Catalina de Alejandría to the back left.

Editor's Note: This story comes to us through the comments on a new order! Since then, we've gotten a little more detail on his stop in Cartagena. We're glad to see Kevin's Pick-Pocket Proof® Adventure Shorts protecting his valuables on his travels and we can't wait for him to try out his new shorts when he gets back from his trip. On another note, Colombia is a new country for us. This stop in Cartagena marks our 4th stop in South America!

Order Comments:

I used my current pair of P^3 shorts in Cartagena, Colombia last year. They saved me from at least one pick-pocket attempt. That save paid for these shorts. We leave on the 21st of January for Medellin, Colombia. My old shorts will have to stand guard until I get the new ones in March.

Email With More Info On The Stop:

Last year, on a trip to Cartagena, I was without question the target of a pick-pocket. This was not an otherwise honest person taking advantage of a wallet sticking out of an open pocket as I was completely zipped up and buttoned down.

Cartagena is an old Spanish walled city with very narrow streets and equally narrow sidewalks. I was walking behind my wife on a quiet sidewalk only wide enough for one person to travel. The pick-pocket came from behind and grabbed my hips with both hands right where my front pockets should open. This was done under the guise of attempting to pass me on this super narrow sidewalk. As she grabbed for my pockets, she yelled at me in Spanish. I knew for sure that this was a pick-pocket attempt as she then immediately walked diagonally across the quiet street and disappeared into a building.   She made no attempt to get back on the sidewalk and walk in front of me. As I mentioned, she was unsuccessful! My pockets were zipped up and buttoned and as such still contained my phone and wallet.

I am happy to share this experience with you as opposed to recalling it for the police.

- Kevin from Calgary, Canada

December 20, 2016

38th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Stopped On The Street In Lima, Peru

Lima ›   Peru ›   South America ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

It is my standard practice to wear Pick-Pocket Proof pants while traveling internationally. It paid off last weekend

I was leaving a coffee shop on Av. Larco in the Miraflores district of Lima, Peru when a young girl bumped into me and began asking a question in Spanish. I promptly moved away and noticed the girl running down the street.

A policeman saw what was happening and got on his radio to have the girl picked up.

My wallet, Iphone and money were secure in different pockets of my Adventure Travel Pants.

Fortunately, the rest of my trip went well and without further incidents.

Regards,

Richard From  The Washington DC Metro Area, USA

October 24, 2016

29th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Batting .500 Against Ecuadorian Pick-Pockets

Ecuador ›   Quito ›   South America ›  

We would like to start by saying that in order to make our pants as secure as possible, it is important to keep the most valuable items in our most secure pockets. Our designs offer multiple double and triple secure pockets. Zippers are more secure than snaps and we designed our pants to put security back into your hands. Pick-pockets are very good at what they do and have, most likely, picked many pockets before they ever attempt to get into yours.

In the below testimonial, travelers wearing both our Men's & Women's Travel Pants are approached by a team of pick-pockets. Our Women's Pants were are able to stop their attempts but the Men's Pants did not prevent them from lifting his wallet. It is also of note that this is the first stopped pick-pocket by a traveler wearing our Women's Travel Pants and our official 29th stopped pick-pocket.

The wallet was in his cargo pockets, behind the snap and button closures. This pocket offers some security and prevents items from falling out while traveling. The Adventure Traveler Pants have 6 triple secure pockets which would have been much harder to access and we always suggest that you utilize these for wallets or phones while in high traffic areas while traveling.

Here is the testimonial as received:

Dear Clothing Arts,

I have been a very pleased customer for several years.  I have two pants and one shorts and bought pants for my daughter and of course recommended to countless friends.

Unfortunately on my most recent trip the pants were not pick pocket proof. I am in Quito Ecuador  I had my wallet in my lower right pocket with snap and buttons closed my wallet was stolen apparently by a family with a small boy using small hands. While police were helpful, we were not able to find the family. Yes we were in a crowd and they kept squeezing against me despite pushing away, they were successful. Fortunately they failed to get my wife's cell phone despite efforts to open up her zipper. Fortunately we were not hurt, it took a while to calm down.

I lost $350 credit cards and drivers lunch   I immediately called card companies fortunately found an atm to get needed cash.

Some suggestions on web site:

Tell customers
Leave most valuables in hotel
Take very few documents
Leave one credit card behind in hotel
Only take minimum cash
Use zipper pocket with button and push to bottom
I would look to tighten up pockets only with buttons

I only wish this was a testimonial

Good Wishes

Traveler from Illinois, USA