By KAYLA PILLOFF
With temperatures dropping and winds increasing, those living in the DMV are no strangers to the cold. This season has felt particularly frigid, and having a winter jacket on hand is almost a necessity. But what if that jacket ends up being a target for violence?
Canada Goose is a Canadian company that specializes in winter outerwear. Their winter jackets have become a staple for those looking to splurge. The jacket is easy to spot, with its distinctive red, white and blue patch on the arm sleeve. The price of the jacket tends to range from around $850 to over $1,000.
In DC, there have been multiple accounts of robberies due to victims wearing these jackets.
According to ABCNews7, on January 28 at 1:30 PM, a victim claimed, “three unknown men allegedly assaulted him to the point he lost consciousness.” They then proceeded to steal his Canada Goose Jacket.
Similarly, on December 18 a cyclist from American University was biking when a white car approached him. The car had two members, one who opened the door and blocked the biker from moving. The other member of the car then pulled out a gun and allegedly said, “Give me the coat, or I’m going to kill you.” This issue has been occurring all over DC, but most prominently in Northwest DC. These assailants often attack in broad daylight, and are reportedly bold and aggressive with victims. According to Fox5DC, police have recommended buying AirTags for the jacket as a safety measure and a way to track them if they ever do get stolen. Despite this, these incidents have left many citizens feeling scared while walking in their Canada Goose coats. As per MacDailyNews, Meera Hajarnis an American University student mentions, “It is something I have to think about, just putting my jacket on,”
However, these crimes did not just begin in 2023: similar incidents date back as early as 2019. More specifically, DC universities like George Washington University (GW) and Howard University have been targets for these robberies. GW released a campus alert in February of 2023 stating: “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.”
King Holmes, a junior at QO, is a longtime owner of a Canada Goose saying, “I’ve had the jacket since I was 9. I’ve grown into it since then,” he said. He describes being totally unaware of the robberies, but explained how he has “no reason to be scared.” Wearers of Canada Goose jackets are not the only individuals being targeted, with a different Canadian brand named Moose Knuckles being another target for these robberies.
Overall, DC has had an ongoing struggle with robberies outside of just jackets, including cars, phones, and wallets. According to NBC Washington, as of December 2023 there had been a “68% increase in robberies compared to this time last year, according to data from the Metropolitan Police Department.”
February 2024
The Prowler 