Dear Clothing Arts,

My wife and I were entering the Granada Cathedral late in the afternoon in February and there was a small group of people milling around the entrance. A man appeared out of nowhere and put his arms around me and his hands swiftly swarmed all over my body. I heard the loud voice of an old man who was shrugging behind me to be aware of the first man. It is not sure to me whether the second man was a good Samaritan or a planted diversion. As I was turning to acknowledge the second man, the first man slipped into the cathedral and magically disappeared forever.

Afterwards, we kept replaying the incident in our head about what exactly had occurred. Who else in the crowd might have been involved? Was I over-reacting? Was he just in a hurry to get into choir practice or some such? It all happens so fast. I kept mentally inventorying in my mind wondering did he take anything? I was totally intact and did not lose anything. It was strange and upsetting but all at once reassuring. I was protected and I actually felt better afterward knowing that my valuables were, in fact, secure.

We also witnessed another scam in Madrid that did not involve us…or did it? An old gypsy woman with some other colorful characters were walking together near the Plaza del Sol and she literally flew out of her shoes and landed on the ground. Immediately many concerned people jumped to her rescue to help her and get her on her feet again. Her entourage was busy mingling with the crowd in a very choreographed way. We felt conflicted on an immediate level but were quick to get away from the whole mess. Regardless, I was glad that I was wearing my Clothing Arts garb and felt secure that nothing was taken from me.

It is always a good idea to be vigilant and aware of our surroundings regardless. I suspect that pickpockets and scammers tend to go for the low-hanging fruit. Distracted and unprepared naive tourists are so vulnerable. Their brain is on vacation and they tend to be careless and vulnerable. It is such a comfort to be as secure as possible as we move through the world enjoying the sites​.

- John G. from Cape May, NJ, USA.

Editor's Note: The testimonial below is counted as one stop as it is likely a single pick-pocket attempted to open the zipper multiple times. This is your first known stop in Sierra Leone.

Dear Clothing Arts,

I just returned from a trip to Sierra Leone, a beautiful country in Western Africa--but it is also a very poor country as well. At a very crowded marketplace in Bo, in the eastern part of the country, I felt 3 attempts to open or reach into my right pocket. I had everything secured behind zippers---nothing was missing, they never got past the initial attempt.

Thanks for the great product.

Rich H from California, USA.
--a new (and loyal) customer

Editors Note: This is your 6th know stop in St. Petersberg!

Dear Clothing Arts,

My wife and I were in St. Petersburg, Russia. We were walking down a sidewalk on the main street and we stopped for a pedestrian stop sign. We were first at the curb, with a lot of people behind us. As the light changed, a man abruptly walked in front of us and stopped, preventing us from crossing while he stood still. I felt another person pushing into my back from behind, and then, a hand trying to first reach into my pocket​.​ ​A​n attempt ​was then made ​t​o grab a travel bag I was holding. I shoved the man aside and he and his partner were lost in the crowd.

Luckily for us, they were unsuccessful due to your anti-pick-pocket pants we were both wearing. I am a police officer and knew the attempt was imminent, but we were helpless and of course without any weapons. It was a frightening and unnerving experience, and we were most likely targeted as we are seniors.

I wonder if the experiences when looked upon together will let travelers know where an “incident” is most likely to happen!

- Harvey M. from Florida, USA.​

Dear Clothing Arts,

My nephew bought a pair of men’s pants for my brother who is currently wearing them on a European trip. I understand some young girl was trying to pick pocket him and her fingers got caught in the zipper in Madrid.

My nephew and brother live in Trinidad and Tobago. Your clothes are famous worldwide! I never heard about your company until my nephew gave me the info.

- Carol F from Ontario, Canada

Editor's Note:  This is your 1st stop in Venice and 25th overall in Rome!

Dear Clothing Arts,

I bought my Adventure and Business pants with the anticipation of my trip to Italy. I was there for 10 days and we went all over. I got back today and can say these pants saved me... twice in 10 days.

Once on our train ride from Venice to Rome, I was wearing the Business Pants and had my wallet in the secret inside zipper. I noticed my outside zipper was undone while leaving the train.

Then, in Rome, while in line for the Colosseum, I was wearing the Adventure Pants and felt someone trying to unzip my pants pocket. They made it to the button flap.

Nice job Clothing Arts. Thank you.

- Austin J. from Utah, USA.

Editor's Note: This is your 11th overall stopped pick-pocket in Barcelona, #3 on our "unofficial" pick-pocket capital of the world list.

Dear Clothing Arts,

I was wearing the business traveler pants in the Old Town district of Barcelona on April 29th. I had placed my mobile phone in the inner Velcro-secured front pocket and zipped the pocket closed. Hearing footsteps from behind, I saw a man closing in fast from the side. He reached for the pocket with the cell phone. I blocked his advance and he took off. This was more of a strong-armed robbery attempt than a pickpocket attempt, but the pants protected my valuables wonderfully.

- Robert K. from Wisconsin, USA.​

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

Dear Clothing Arts,

Outside Mandalay, Myanmar, observing hundreds of Monks going to breakfast and alms, a pick-pocket attempted on both front pockets. Zipper down 1/4 way is it.

No go.

- Gary P. from Florida, USA

Editor's Note: This is your 26th known stop in Paris and originally came to us from a Facebook comment.

Editor's Note: This is your fifth overall stop in St. Petersburg.

Dear Clothing Arts,

My wife and I were in St. Petersburg, Russia last year and someone tried to pick my pocket as we came out of the Hermitage Museum. He got his fingers into my pocket but was unable to yank my wallet out of the pocket thanks to the double buttons. I felt him pulling on the wallet and knocked him away.

Without my Clothing Arts pants, our trip to Russia would have had a much sadder ending!

- Bill K. from Ohio, USA.

Editor's Note: Paris overtakes Rome for the first time in the 8 years we have kept this list to become the "unofficial" pick-pocket capital of the world! This is ​your​ second stop in a row ​in Paris​.

Dear Clothing Arts,

Pick-Pocket Proof Pants Work!!

I ordered a pair of the Pick-Pocket Proof Pants for a trip to Europe in March 2019. While in Paris, on the Metro/subway, the train was very crowded, and a young lady got on and stood next to me. I felt a movement on the side of my pants and turned away from her. At the next stop she got off and I check my pocket to find the zipper had been moved upward in an attempt to get my cell phone.

Thanks to your pants I still have my phone. The pants are very comfortable to wear and wash up nicely.

- Jack W. from Tennessee, USA.​