DC Police Warn About People Being Robbed of Their Canada Goose Jackets

A person wears Canada Goose in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 18, 2018. Rich Fury/Getty Images for Canada Goose

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington is advising residents to take caution following a string of robberies targeting people who wear Canada Goose jackets.

Winter coats from the popular brand are valued from $550 to as high as $1,850. Police said people are being robbed of the coats in the city, with at least five robberies reported since the start of the year, according to reports.

People are asked to cooperate and surrender their coats if they are held at gunpoint.

“Property is not worth your life. Give away that property, try to get a good description of that person, and we want people to call 911,” Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Patrick Loftus said, reported BBC.

Some robberies occurred near George Washington University, which triggered an advisory from the campus on Feb. 2.

“We want to alert our community regarding a string of robberies involving Canada Goose jackets that have taken place in the past few days,” the advisory reads.

“While none of the incidents have occurred on campus, two took place near the Foggy Bottom campus on February 1, 2023. Jackets have been taken off of victims, and in some cases, weapons have been brandished.

“These jackets are very expensive, and our community members should be mindful while wearing them, even in very public spaces. As always, be mindful of your surroundings. If a situation feels unsafe, dial 911.”

Canada Goose jackets displayed at Park City Marriott in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 19, 2018. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Canada Goose

Reports of Assaults, Thefts

On Jan. 24, a student of Howard University informed police that as he was walking to school, he was assaulted by three men who pulled up to him in a car, reported WJLA, citing a police report. The three men reportedly demanded he give up his Canada Goose jacket and forced him to the ground after he told them no. They took his jacket and fled the scene in a blue Hyundai sedan. The student sustained injuries to his eye and forehead.

Howard University police said the attack took place in a busy area where there were onlookers and witnesses, the BBC reported. According to the outlet, the suspects have since been arrested and the jacket has been recovered.

On Jan. 26, a similar robbery occurred involving three attackers, all men, one of whom pointed a handgun at the victim and ordered him to take off his jacket and surrender his vehicle, WJLA reported. Citing a police report, the outlet stated that the victim was punched in the face after he took off his coat, after which the men climbed inside the victim’s vehicle and fled.

On Feb. 1, a woman was robbed of her Canada Goose jacket at gunpoint. The man who robbed her coat fled thereafter, reported WJLA, citing a police report from MPD.

A similar incident also took place on Feb. 2, the outlet reported. The victim, a man, was threatened at gunpoint that he would be shot if he didn’t surrender his Canada Goose jacket.

On Feb. 5, District of Columbia police sought help via Twitter for the public to help identify two men who stole Canada Goose jackets from a couple who was walking with their son. According to NBC Washington, the men approached the couple—Julian and Sheila Kaufman—in the middle of the afternoon on Feb. 5.

“Lookout for 2 [black males], approx. 20 years of age, approx. 6 [feet] in height, both suspects wearing black in color Canada Goose jackets, and operating a Silver in color Infiniti Sedan bearing a D.C. tag,” the police announcement reads. “DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911.”

“What’re you gonna do if you’re in that situation?“ Julian Kaufman told NBC Washington. ”You got a gun to your head, so.”