7News On Your Side: What to know about DC's Canada Goose jacket robberies
WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. police are tracking a string of similar crimes involving robberies of Canada Goose jackets in the District. The jackets are valued between $500 to $1,500.
People are being robbed of these expensive coats on D.C. streets, police said, and in some cases, after a weapon is shown.
At least two of the recent robberies happened near, but not on, The George Washington University campus. As a result, school administrators have posted an advisory for students and staff.
STRING OF ROBBERIES
7News obtained five recent police reports on the robbery investigations. Here's a breakdown of the incidents provided by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD):
The first robbery this year involving a Canada Goose jacket was reported on Jan. 24, when the victim told officers three men approached him at 2301 Georgia Avenue Northwest as he was walking to school, the police report stated. The men demanded he give up his jacket, according to MPD.
The victim told them no. He was then assaulted by the men, who forced him to the ground and stole his jacket, according to the report. MPD said the men left the area in a blue Hyundai sedan. The victim's eye and forehead were injured during the theft, police said.
Two days later, on Jan. 26, a similar robbery happened in the 4300 block of Connecticut Avenue Northwest. The victim said that while he was getting out of his vehicle, he was approached by three men, one of whom pointed a black handgun at him and ordered him to take off his jacket and give up his vehicle, according to the police report.
While he was taking off his coat, one of the men punched him in the face with a closed fist, police said. The men then climbed inside his vehicle and fled northbound. Three more suspects followed in a white sedan, the police report stated.
On February 1, a victim reportedly told police a man came up behind her while she was walking on the sidewalk in the 900 block of 24th Street Northwest. As he approached her, he pushed a small handgun into the side of her torso and told her "give me your coat" and "hurry up," MPD reported. She gave up her coat and the man fled north on 24th street, according to the report.
Another instance happened the next day, on Feb. 2. The victim told police he was walking on I Street Northwest when a man approached him from behind holding a handgun, according to a police report.
He told the victim "don't [expletive] say anything or I'll blow your head off," MPD wrote. The victim asked what he wanted, and he reportedly replied, "I want the [expletive] jacket."
The victim gave up the coat and the man got into a white four-door sedan with a partially unknown tag of EP, police said. The vehicle was last seen northbound on 25th Street Northwest from I Street Northwest.
Then, on Feb. 5, D.C. police asked for help in identifying at least two men involved in an armed robbery in the 1800 block of T Street Northwest. Around 1:30 p.m., police said the men approached the victims.
One of the men showed a handgun and demanded the victim's coat, according to police. The men then fled the area, authorities said.
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Watch the video below:
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The men and their vehicle were caught by a surveillance camera.
HELP SOLVE THE CRIMES
Anyone who can identify suspects and their vehicles or who has knowledge of these incidents should take no action but call police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Department's TEXT TIP LINE at 50411.
The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a violent crime committed in the District of Columbia.
