The sought-after Canada Goose parkas, priced at up to £1,800, are said to rival designer watches as a favourite haul.
Other high-end clothing tragets include brands such as The North Face, Moose Knuckles and the even-pricier Moncler.
The rapidly growing trend has led to knife attacks, pedestrians being robbed – and even neighbours stealing from neighbours. Online footage appears to show two people in hoods trying to take one of the coveted goose down coats at a Kent train station in daylight.
While a scarred man who said his face was slashed by a knife as he was mugged for his coat shared a video of himself in hospital. Captioning the video, “Don’t die for Canada Goose”, he urged viewers to be careful when wearing the plush jackets.
The Canadian brand has been endorsed by celebrities including US model Kate Upton, who wore its parka on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.
Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds helped donate parkas to 300 students in Canada’s Arctic region in the pandemic.
Transport chiefs said youngsters on the Tube were being targeted for Canada Goose and The North Face coats, with an 83% rise in thefts from 2,935 in 2022 to 5,378 last year.
David Wilson, a criminology professor at Birmingham City University, said: “Thieves used to target Rolex watches which go for thousands. I would tell anyone wearing Canada Goose jackets to be careful and be aware of your surroundings and who’s around you.”
- Police said two boys aged 16 arrested on December 28 in connection with an attempted robbery at Elmstead Woods station in Kent were released on conditional bail.
