October 26, 2018

91st Stopped Pick-Pocket: Barcelona Metro Team Head Home Empty Handed!

Barcelona ›   Europe ›   Spain ›  

Editor's Note: This is your 9th stopped pick-pocket in Barcelona!

Dear Clothing Arts,
 
On Day 4 of our trip to Spain this month, we were on the Barcelona metro at rush hour, on our way back to the hotel from a day out. At the stop before ours four young men boarded, three stood between us and the door. Oddly, one moved behind me and stood there without grabbing a rail. As the train pulled into the station one of the men who stood in front of my wife suddenly bent over and began to wretch and spit up a little bit on the floor. His and his friend's position prevented my wife from moving forward. The man on the floor looked up at us and wretched again. At that point, I noticed the man behind me had his hand in my front pocket. I removed the man’s hand and we exited. Because of Barcelona’s reputation for active pick-pockets, I never went anywhere without my wallet and passport zipped inside the interior pocket of my Clothing Arts business shorts. The man managed to unzip the outer pocket without me noticing – so I was grateful for the secret Clothing Arts zipped pocket – two zippers too many to undo. Without Clothing Arts shorts I would have been without money, credit cards and travel docs. Whew. By the way, I wear my Clothing Arts business shorts even when not traveling all summer long because they are my favorite fit and finish of any short available.
 
So thanks for your great shorts, I’ll never travel anywhere without them.

- Charles S. from North Carolina, USA

 

December 21, 2017

70th & 71st Stopped Pick-Pockets: Two Stops In One Trip - Rome & Barcelona!

Barcelona ›   Europe ›   italy ›   Rome ›   Spain ›  

(Left) Arch of Constantine in Rome, Italy | (Right) Aerial View of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain

Editor's Note: This stopped pick-pocket story originally comes from a ***** star review on our Pick-Pocket Proof® Adventure Travel Pants. Our Founder / Designer immediately reached out and was able to get some more detailed information on the stopped pick-pocket experiences. Check out Clark's original review and full email below!

Dear Clothing Arts,

I don't know if you remember, however I ordered the Travel Pants, but they were not scheduled to arrive until after we departed. You answered the phone as you were leaving the shop, and personally got me the Adventure pants - overnight - as a replacement!! (BTW-I just ordered the Travel pants yesterday in anticipation of my 6th trip to Russia, searching for the remains of Grand Duke Mikhail Romanov. The GD, brother of Tsar Nikolas, was actually the last Tzar and was murdered in June 1918 outside the city of Perm.)

Incident #1 - Barcelona

We were walking on a side street of Las Ramblas, actually in the market - fish, meat, pastries, cheese, vegetables...and it was crowded! I felt someone brush against me - not unusual, however their hand was trying to open my front right pocket. I never got a good look at the perpetrator due to the movement of the crowd.

Incident #2 - Rome

I have lived and worked in many countries and try to blend. I usually buy a local newspaper and shove it under my arm, hoping the locals will think I belong. Unfortunately I did not have time to purchase a paper and was trying to figure out the train platform and departure time. I just looked lost and harried and hence a target for being bumped into with the intent of relieving me of my wallet. The individuals who "bumped" into me were very apologetic and, of course, worried about the mess they had made with my clothes, especially the pants which they tried to smooth out! Sorry about their luck!

- G. Clark from Colorado, USA

December 01, 2017

66th & 67th Stopped Carterista: Double Stop in Barcelona!

Barcelona ›   Europe ›   Spain ›  

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

November 15, 2017

64th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Barcelona Vacation Saved!

Barcelona ›   Europe ›   Spain ›  

October 18, 2017

60th & 61st Stopped Pick-Pockets: 1 in Madrid & 1 in Morocco!

Africa ›   Agadir ›   Europe ›   Madrid ›   Morocco ›   Spain ›  

 
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
 

January 12, 2017

41st Stopped Pick-Pocket: Blocked On A Barcelona Bus

Barcelona ›   Europe ›   Spain ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

My first pair of Pick-pocket proof travel pants gave me security and comfort travelling in Eastern Africa in 2013 – but saw no action. My second pair thwarted a fellow on a bus in Barcelona last year. The bus was standing room, but not so full as to expect contact. A fellow passenger talking on his cell phone with his left hand and with a sweater draped over his left arm leaned against me. OK, I thought this was just a friendly Spanish culture thing. But after some contact, I felt light tugging on my right rear zipper. The guy was a pro. Using his hidden right hand, he got past the buttons without my realizing, but he took too long and the added security of the zipper saved the day. At that second I turned surprised and angry. He seemed perplexed and surprised as well, likely because he was caught and the pants proved too much of a challenge. Saved my wallet and all the hassles of replacing credit cards and ID. Great travel pants!

Lance from Alberta, Canada

September 08, 2016

28th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Better Than A Barcelona Pick-Pocket Again

Barcelona ›   Europe ›   Spain ›  

I have been a very happy user of both two pairs of the adventure pants and two pairs of the business pants, wearing them on many international trips in all sort of weather and conditions. They have certainly given me peace of mind about being in crowded situations, as shown in the following instance.

I was attending a Bruce Springsteen concert in Barcelona, where the stadium was rocking, everyone was on their feet and singing and dancing to the music, and generally pushing together. In the midst of all the celebration and movement, I felt a hand groping for my wallet, unaware of the multiple barriers that the formidable opponent the pick pocket proof adventure travel pants provided. I reached back, tried to grab the wrist of the offending would be thief, and was satisfied to go back to enjoying the E Street Band as the villain disappeared as fast as he could into the massive crowd.

Thank you, Clothing Arts, for such an ingenious and effective product.

Robert from New Hampshire, USA

August 23, 2016

27th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Better Than A Barcelona Metro Pick-Pocket

Barcelona ›   Europe ›   Spain ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

I just got back from a trip to Barcelona/Paris/Venice/Florence/Rome - 3 weeks - wearing pickpocket proof pants/shirt. Worked great with no laundering of pants and washing shirt, just once in sink, letting air dry overnight.

In Barcelona, on the first phase of the trip, we were heading on subway with roller/carry-on bag - obvious tourist/mark - when midway through, the train stops, I waited near the door to exit.  A burly man stepped in front of me and a younger man moves behind me, impeding my exit at the next stop. I had my passport in the zipper inner pocket on left, strand of pearls/jewelry in velcro inner pocket on left, wallet in zippered inner pocket on right, cash in velcro inner pocket on right, while in both "external" zippered pockets I had bulky handkerchiefs with a ball point pen as decoy.

As I forced my way out of the train, in the crush, the young man behind me handed me my ball point pen from my zippered left pocket which he had unzipped, unbeknownst to me. I smiled as I retrieved my pen as he hurried away and felt for all my valuables - still intact - as I proceeded to the airport. Relieved at my good fortune in wearing Clothing Arts pickpocket proof clothing that I faithfully wore through the remainder of the trip - even comfortable in 95 degrees, daytime walking 8-10 miles/day in the streets of Europe.

Paul from Maryland, USA

June 17, 2015

18th Stopped Pick-Pocket: Barcelona Pick-Pocket Escape!

Barcelona ›   Europe ›   Spain ›  

Dear Clothing Arts,

Back in June 2013, while on a family trip to Rome, I narrowly escaped a pickpocket attempt while boarding a bus at Termini station. I had read up on my destinations and was keenly aware of the main areas that pickpockets frequented in Rome and the other places we visited, as well as their methods. Fortunately, I was able to avoid an unpleasant situation, but it surely left me with an unpleasant taste in my mouth and a feeling of vulnerability that I do not want to have while enjoying my travels.

I first read about Adam’s pants in an article in the Chicago Tribune and it caught my interest. I was fortunate enough to meet Adam at a Travel show in Chicago and was able to see the clothes first hand. I ordered 3 pairs of pants for an upcoming trip to the Mediterranean that we took earlier this year.

While my wife and I were in Barcelona on February 28, 2015, we were heading to Parc Guell for the afternoon on public transportation. We took the subway to a bus - when we got out of the subway station, I was completely disoriented as to what direction anything was. In my moment of weakness, I feel like a big arrow was pointing at my head screaming tourist!

We found the bus stop and there were several people waiting, and none of them spoke English. There were some nice elderly ladies who sort of made me comfortable that I was going the right way, as well as a couple of other guys waiting to get on bus.

When the bus came, one of the guys that had been waiting boarded first, and the second guy graciously motioned to let me pass before him. I assumed that he would let my wife pass with me but he did not. He followed me on the bus and him and the first guy sandwiched me as I tried to validate my ticket. Sure enough they were trying to hit me!

Having been through it before in Rome, I knew what was going on, but felt much different this time as I had my pickpocket proof pants. Once I felt that sensation of violation (hands all over me that don’t belong there), I immediately moved to the back of the bus away from the two guys, Sure enough the button on my rear pocket was undone and the zipper was not fully closed. But my wallet was secure and I was confident that I was as well.

My wife and I are going to Budapest and Prague next month. I am ordering two pairs of shorts today as it will be warm there. I’ve been doing my homework and know where the pickpockets frequent there, but I have no worries. With a little diligence and my pants from Clothing Arts, I feel safe going anywhere!

Bob R from Plainfield, Illinois

April 02, 2013

Feeling Protected On My Trip To Europe

Europe ›   Spain ›  

Dear Clothing Arts:

I got my P^Cubed pants the night before I left for two months in Europe including a two week cruise in the Mediterranean.

The best news is that I didn't get pick pocketed anywhere as did several of my fellow cruise mates, mostly in Naples.

While one must be always vigilant in crowds, I was able to enjoy the sights and stroll the streets without constantly being worried about losing important documents and money. That alone makes these pants worth the cost.

Len

PS: Only the Street Sweeper in Plaza del Ángel in Madrid has more pickpocket proof pants!