Beware of Pickpockets! My ZT 0566BW Elmax Was Stolen Right Out of My Front Pocket Today

sgt1372 said:
IDK, I guess some really slick "operators" could take my knife out of my pocket BUT I do not venture intentionally into crowded areas (by nature and because of Covid) and NEVER let anyone touch or brush up against me which I (may naievely) believe is necessary for any pickpocket to operate.

I always have my head on a swivel, maintain my distance and take an defensive posture in a crowd that I'm caught in and will push (usually gently) anyone out of my way who gets too close in order to protect my space but have taken a more aggressive stance (more than once) against someone who is not looking where they are going and is going to run into me (or my GF) as a result.

Never been pick pocketed in my life (as a result) but I have lost a knife w/a loose clip out of my front pants pocket because I didn't bother to better secure it.
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Making someone push you out of the way is a pickpocketing technique. In addition, there's no need for some of them to touch anything but your wallet.

If you think a city has no or few pickpockets, they do travel and like big events. Best place for a man's wallet in a pickpocketing area is tucked in the pant front pocket. In any city, beware of crowded mass transit.

OP how do you know it happened in the store and not earlier?
 
brownshoe said:
Making someone push you out of the way is a pickpocketing technique. In addition, there's no need for some of them to touch anything but your wallet.

If you think a city has no or few pickpockets, they do travel and like big events. Best place for a man's wallet in a pickpocketing area is tucked in the pant front pocket. In any city, beware of crowded mass transit.
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I am no "expert" but I am ex-cop from a BIG CITY and am well aware of pickpockets and how most operate.

There's NO WAY for anyone to pickpocket you unless they can get close enough to you to do it.

Normally, I maintain sufficient distance so no one can force me to "push them" out of the way defensively. My use of martial arts techiques to "push" (or pull) people out of the way is OFFENSIVE and involves turning/grabbing the arms/shoulders of the offending person so they cannot reach into my pocket w/o my noticing the movement which (if used) I can easily block (and switch into a take down move, if need be).

So, while I am not saying that no one could ever pick pocket me, my preparation and training greatly mitigates the possibility.
 
killgar said:
I could understand pickpockets going after a wallet or a phone, but a pocketknife seems an odd target, especially when you consider how many people carry cheap folders clipped to their pocket.
Of course I wouldn't put it past some criminals, or some teenagers, to take such risks. People do dumb things all the time.
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I have known several times..at least three or four, when my clipped knife was removed from my pocket. I became aware of it, though, soon thereafter.
Each time, I side-swiped a towel, or corner of a cupboard, and no other person was involved. This happened with Sebenzas, PM2's, and one or two other knives that supposedly had a secure clip.
If I caught a pick-pocket, he would remember the incident for a long time.
 
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DangerZone98 said:
IWB has pros and cons too. On one hand, it’s quite discreet and frees up your pocket for other stuff. On the other hand, sweat may be a problem for non-stainless steels. Comfort may be an issue as well depending on the knife.
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I was going to mention IWB carry as a safe way to carry a folder. I carry my edc/work knife clipped at the 1:30 position behind my belt. It isn t noticeable, much less subject to being stolen. I once got into a major league baseball game after a light pat down by security with my knife undetected. I didn t even think about it not being allowed at the game.

There can be a problem with sweat when carrying IWB. I ve had to be careful with zdp 189 blades, but had no trouble with d2.
Just recently got a k390 blade that I m a little worried about carrying in the hot weather.

IWB carry is quite comfortable for me for blades up to 4 inches, like the Military or Recon1. I forget the knife is there until I need it.

I do like that with IWB carry, behind my belt, the knife is concealed.
 
I was once pickpocketed (front pocket) when squeezing into a packed subway car in nyc. Fortunately the cash in my pocket was loose bills and not in a wallet so as the guy pulled it out of my pocket it fell onto the floor of the car.
 
sgt1372 said:
I am no "expert" but I am ex-cop from a BIG CITY and am well aware of pickpockets and how most operate.

There's NO WAY for anyone to pickpocket you unless they can get close enough to you to do it.

Normally, I maintain sufficient distance so no one can force me to "push them" out of the way defensively. My use of martial arts techiques to "push" (or pull) people out of the way is OFFENSIVE and involves turning/grabbing the arms/shoulders of the offending person so they cannot reach into my pocket w/o my noticing the movement which (if used) I can easily block (and switch into a take down move, if need be).

So, while I am not saying that no one could ever pick pocket me, my preparation and training greatly mitigates the possibility.
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In a BIG CITY to "maintain sufficient distance" is not possible. A good pickpocket is seen but unseen and unfelt, your "martial arts" would be superfluous.
 
A bit of an old thread but I was searching "weirdest" to get an idea of what some of my oddball knives are worth (selling off a bunch of stuff soon) & found this thread.

Simple solution are pick-pocket proof pants by Clothing Arts... They are on sale right now.
I have a pair of the adventure zip off leg parts in every color and they are still holding up after years and dozens of washes. The sale price is legit, they really do sell for the MSRP listed 90% of the year.
The only "problem" I have ever had is that once I could feel my keys (just my truck and house key and a mini O-Light) in my front pocket but took a good 2 minutes to figure out which pocket they were in standing in a gusty parking lot in subzero temps.
 
It’s gone. You lose. Game Over… Back to the beginning of the level. As usual; nothing new. 🥸
 
^ And better ones for them to steal. Thieves need upgrades too. Elmax is overrated. (Sarcasm)
 
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Sendit6.5 said:
Sorry to hear about your knife! Being robbed feels incredibly violating and I can’t imagine it when you’re pickpocketed. Geez. Hope you report it and get them caught when they try to pawn it!

That said, I think that terming climbers and ski bums as dirtbags is crossing a line. There are LOTS of full time climbers and so-called ski bums (mostly younger folks) that are perfectly honest. Most of our Olympic athletes in those sports have lived, or continue to live, that vagabond lifestyle. The kids that stole from you are “dirtbags” without ANY doubt! However, there’s no need to lump the skiing and climbing community into the description, imo. I was once one of those kids and I NEVER stole anything from anyone and neither did any of the other full-time climbers and skiers I met and associated with in the late 89’s and early 90’s. It’s personal and I can’t help but get a little defensive. Lol. Honestly, I met more dirtbags and miscreants in college and in the business world than I did mountaineering and skiing and living out of vans and school busses!

Anyway, I hope you get that great knife back or find a replacement. 🙏🙏
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I get what you are saying but just wanted to let you know that dirtbag is a term used in the outdoor community for people doing it on the cheap and living in a van or campground, whatever. It is not a negative term in the community.
 
I've had a similar thing happen with a seatbelt. When I got to work, my clipped knife was missing from my pocket. Found it clipped to my seatbelt when I went to look for it as lunch. I have heard of that happening to others too. Point is. a clipped knife can come out without notice.
 
Still haven't been pickpocketed in the 5 months since this thread 1st aired.

No problem maintaining "social distance" during Covid to deter any attempts, apart from the fact that I always maintain my distance from others regardless of the circumstances. :)

And, if you have the "street presence" that I do, I often don't need to do anything because, even though I'm not a "big guy," people think twice before approaching me and I've even seen street people take alook at me and then turn around before even trying to take me on. And, I wasnt even in uniform!

LOL!!! ;)
 
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I got jacked one time in L.A, and honestly, it was a great lesson to my 18-19 year old self that helped me learn to carry myself and prepare, and to stay out of stupid places, at stupid times, with stupid people. The rules of stupid. I had ignored every single red flag that existed, allowed myself to be lured to South Central (from Downtown), then behind a liquor store and then, it was pretty simple (and actually a little strange) from there. A bunch of guys, who were waiting behind the store, showed inordinate interest in my possessions, and when I turned to find the "good Samaritan" who brought me there, I was faced by another person, pushed down on my ass, and, I knew what time it was at that point.

I ran all of my things to the fellow, it was more than satisfactory, even though they willingly missed a jackpot of value, so I took the opportunity to briskly walk away. I see two of these dudes running at me once I am across the street, thinking "Ah man, what now..." until I realize they are holding my backpack. They return that to me, with a blow-up mattress I had in-box, and they actually apologize for the behavior of their friend, saying that they regret that I had to be jacked like that, but there was no talking him out of it. Never saw the person who brought me there again.

Not 60 seconds after that, I run into two police officers whom I flag down and say "Hey! I was robbed right there, just now! *points to store across street*.". They were pretty useless, unfortunately, as the main help I wanted was not so much recovery of my items, but how to get out of the area safely without getting killed, as I had been lured there with the idea of getting a place to stay after the last train of the night was delayed, no more were running until morning, and I would not be allowed to sit in the (lit, 24 hour) L.A Central Station. "Go spend the night out there, come get your train in nine hours in the morning". I tried to explain, I was really in a bad situation here, could you give me a ride a half mile towards LA, out of gangland, or at least point me in the right direction? That was too much to ask, but I think it was because of some assumptions they made about me and why I was there, a white boy in South Central at 6am. Still, for safety's sake... Thank God I found some kind locals who helped me get in touch with family.
 
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Bizarre. Sounds like the friends of Rob Backalley were more helpful than the cops. I take it this was ore cell phones?
Those pants I posted are the best, you could stash 99% of your cash in one of the various secret pockets and no way anyone would be able to tell short of not just strip searching you but also cutting the pants into pieces. I have no doubt that unless the person knew they could wear the pants a dozen times without realizing a couple of the pockets even existed.
 
My knife is wedged into my FRP with the muzzle part of my gun holster. Good luck getting the knife out. In the event that you do, good luck with the rest of the interaction.
 
I'm going to start a new trend of making 3.5' lanyards w/ carabiners attached...
Be like a wallet chain, but 550 cord and for knives...
 
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