Washington DC police have issued a warning about armed robbers targeting and stealing thousands of dollars worth of winter coats in broad daylight.
In the span of 48 hours, multiple residents were robbed of their Canada Goose and Moncler jackets at gunpoint.
Police said that three to four masked thieves wearing dark clothing approached the victims and demanded their jackets as well as other items before making off with them in a car.
In Georgetown, a woman whose outerwear was nearly stolen said she was walking home when a group of girls noticed her Canada Goose jacket and attempted to steal the expensive item.
‘I just heard, “Ooh, she’s got a Goose,” and I thought maybe it was a compliment, and then I felt a hand on my arm and I was like, “Oh, they actually want to take it off me”, she said.
‘At that point, I threw my coffee cup to the side just to distract them; specifically, I did not want to hurt anyone, but I just wanted them to be like, “Oh, what was that?” And it worked, and then I ran really fast, and I’ve not run like that in a while,’ the woman explained.
In Georgetown, a woman said she was walking home when a group of girls noticed she was wearing a Canada Goose jacket and attempted to steal the expensive item
In the span of 48 hours, multiple residents were robbed of their Canada Goose and Moncler jackets at gunpoint by robbers
Canada Goose coats and parkas are known to be priced over $1,000, with the most expensive woman’s parka costing $1,850.
In one incident that happened near the Estonian Embassy on M Street, Northwest, the muggers stole a jacket along with the man’s wallet, a pair of Jordans and several other items after assaulting him.
While in another incident, suspects approached another male victim on P Street, Northwest, held him at gunpoint and took his $1,800 Moncler jacket as well as his wallet.
Thieves also stole a victim’s blue Canada Goose jacket after confronting them along the 1900 block of S Street, Northwest in a third incident.
Police have not clarified if all of these incidents are related.
Incidents have occurred all over Northwest DC
Canada Goose coats and parkas are known to be priced over $1,000, with the most expensive woman’s parka costing $1,850
In light of these thefts, DC police have advised residents to buy AirTags to not lose their jackets forever
In light of these thefts, DC police have advised residents to buy AirTags to not lose their jackets forever.
Commander Sylvan Altieri said: ‘AirTags. I’ve seen people use them on tool kits, suitcases, I think that’s probably the best thing you can do as far as if it gets taken, because it’s a nice way to track it.’
Officials believe that these stolen jackets are being resold on online websites.
Reports of expensive jackets being stolen from locals come after images and videos of pharmacies being empty due to thefts and adults using children to steal items have emerged.
A CVS in DC has had its entire shelves cleared by gangs of children who attack the store every day.
A sole security guard at the store in Columbia Heights is no match for up to 50 teens who routinely strip the store both before and after school, Fox 5 reported.
The pharmacist chain is in the process of closing 900 stores across the US in the face of a crimewave that the National Retail Federation says is costing the industry $112billion a year.
Desolate shelves greet visitors to the CVS in DC that is routinely stripped by shoplifting children on their way to or from school
Whole sections of the store have been cleared of products by shoplifters
And little remains that is not locked up at the beleaguered outlet in the center of the city.
‘When you walk into this CVS, you’d think the store is closing because there’s barely anything on the shelves,’ Fox 5 reporter Sierra Fox told viewers.
‘I did ask an employee what gets stolen the most, and they just laughed and said “everything”.
‘A big group of kids, like 45 or more, walk in before school, after school and late at night to steal chips and drinks.
‘They even throw the food and beverages on the ground and stomp on them, leaving behind a big mess.’
Analysts at UBS predict that at least 50,000 shops will close in the US over the next five years driven by the move to online shopping and the impact of theft on their bottom line.
While multiple big chains have closed stores across the nation due to shoplifters, the situation seems more grim DC after videos of children and adults stealing Halloween decorations went viral.
A homeowner in Washington, DC, was horrified to see her Halloween decorations stolen from her front porch by young children under the supervision of two adults
The incident was caught on a Ring doorbell camera and shows the kids walking up to the property in the Hillcrest neighborhood around 8.30pm on October 12
The incident was caught on a Ring doorbell camera and shows the kids walking up to the property in the Hillcrest neighborhood around 8.30pm on October 12.
One adult was seemingly directing them as two baskets filled with Halloween-themed items were stolen.
A second adult was seen standing on the sidewalk outside the house and guarding while the theft occurred.
The homeowner, who was named only as Shelly, was left ‘disgusted’ by the incident and said she was concerned about the behavior of the young children.
Footage shows three kids climbing on to the porch of the property and looking through the window to see if anyone was home.
An adult then appears in front of the children while they scour the area.
Another grown-up was also spotted standing guard on the sidewalk during the incident.
The kids were seen inspecting Halloween decorations on the porch before two of them picked up baskets.
They immediately ran from the scene with the two adults who homeowner Shelly believes are their parents.
‘I was just really disgusted that the parents were there,’ she told WUSA9. ‘It was almost like they were being directed which was concerning to me.
The Metropolitan Police Department has asked residents to contact the office if they have any information about the missing jackets.