Washington DC police have issued a warning about armed robbers robbing and stealing thousands of dollars worth of winter coats in broad daylight.
In the span of 48 hours, several residents were robbed of their Canada Goose and Moncler jackets at gunpoint.
Police said three to four masked thieves dressed in dark clothing approached the victims and demanded their jackets and other items before leaving with them in a car.
In one incident that took place near the Estonian Embassy in M Street, Northwest, the robbers stole a jacket along with the man's wallet, a pair of Jordans and several other items after attacking him.
During another incident, the suspects approached another male victim on P Street, Northwest, held him at gunpoint and took both his $1,800 Moncler jacket and his wallet.
Thieves also stole a victim's blue Canada Goose jacket after confronting them in a third incident in the 1900 block of S Street, Northwest.
Police have not yet clarified whether all these incidents are related.
In the span of 48 hours, several residents were robbed of their Canada Goose and Moncler jackets at gunpoint by robbers
Incidents have occurred throughout Northwest DC
In Georgetown, a woman said she was walking home when a group of girls noticed she was wearing a Canada Goose jacket and tried 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 thought, “Oh, they actually want to take it away from me,” she said.
“At that point I threw my coffee cup aside to distract them; specifically, I didn't want to hurt anyone, I just wanted them to say, “Oh, what was that?” And it worked, and then I ran really fast, and I haven't run like that in a while,” the woman explained.
Canada Goose jackets and parkas have been known to cost over $1,000, with the most expensive women's parka costing $1,850.
In Georgetown, a woman said she was walking home when a group of girls noticed she was wearing a Canada Goose jacket and tried to steal the expensive item.
Canada Goose jackets and parkas have been known to cost over $1,000, while the most expensive women's parka costs $1,850
In light of these thefts, DC police have advised residents to purchase AirTags so they don't lose their jackets forever
In light of these thefts, DC police have advised residents to purchase AirTags so they don't lose their jackets forever.
Commander Sylvan Altieri said, “AirTags. I've seen people use them on tool boxes and suitcases. I think that's probably the best thing you can do if it's taken because it's a nice way to track it.”
Officials believe these stolen jackets are being resold on online websites.
Reports of locals stealing expensive coats come after images and videos emerged of pharmacies lying empty due to thefts and adults using children to steal items.
At a CVS in DC, the entire shelves have been emptied by gangs of children who attack the store every day.
A lone security guard at the Columbia Heights store is no match for the 50 teenagers who routinely empty the store before and after school, Fox 5 reports.
The pharmacy chain is closing 900 stores in the US due to a crime wave that is costing the industry $112 billion a year, according to the National Retail Federation.
Desolate shelves greet visitors to DC's CVS, which is routinely cleared out by shoplifting kids on their way to or from school
Entire parts of the store have been stripped of products by shoplifters
And there's little left that isn't locked up in the beleaguered outlet in the center of town.
“When you walk into this CVS, you think the store is closing because there is hardly anything on the shelves.” Fox 5 reporter Sierra Fox told viewers.
“I asked an employee what gets stolen the most, and they just laughed and said 'everything.'
'A large group of children, about 45 years old or older, come in before school, after school and late at night to steal chips and drinks.
“They even throw the food and drinks on the ground and stomp on them, leaving a big mess.”
Analysts at UBS predict that at least 50,000 stores in the US will close over the next five years due to the shift to online shopping and the impact of theft on their bottom line.
While several major chains across the country have closed stores due to shoplifters, the situation appears grimmer in DC after videos of children and adults stealing Halloween decorations went viral.
A homeowner in Washington, D.C., was shocked to see her Halloween decorations stolen from her porch by young children supervised by two adults
The incident was captured on a Ring doorbell camera and shows the children walking to the building in the Hillcrest neighborhood on October 12 around 8:30 p.m.
The incident was captured on a Ring doorbell camera and shows the children walking to the building in the Hillcrest neighborhood on October 12 around 8:30 p.m.
One adult was apparently in charge of them when two baskets filled with Halloween-themed items were stolen.
A second adult was seen on the sidewalk outside the home and watched while the theft occurred.
The homeowner, named only as Shelly, was disgusted by the incident and said she was concerned about the behavior of the young children.
Footage shows three children climbing onto the veranda of the building and looking through the window to see if anyone is home.
An adult will then appear in front of the children as they search the area.
Another person was also seen standing guard on the sidewalk during the incident.
The children were seen inspecting Halloween decorations on the porch before two of them picked up baskets.
They immediately ran away with the two adults who homeowner Shelly believes are their parents.
“I was really disgusted that the parents were there,” she said WUSA9. 'It was almost like they were being controlled, which worried me.
The Metropolitan Police Department has asked residents to contact the office if they have any information about the missing jackets.