Wearers of Canada Goose jackets have been told to remain vigilant amid a series of muggings in which the clothes were stolen from people’s backs.
Last week, two 16-year-old boys were arrested after a violent confrontation at Elmstead Woods train station in Chislehurst, Kent, where a man was punched repeatedly as assailants tried to pull off his coat.
Footage of the incident shows the victim trapped against a wall as he is battered and kicked before he manages to escape along the platform.
A widely-shared tweet says the attackers were after the man’s Canada Goose jacket.
Some of the company’s luxury winterwear can cost more than £1,700 – making it a popular target for opportunistic thieves.
The British Transport Police said the two teenagers who were arrested over the Elmstead Woods incident have since been bailed.
Siwan Haward, the director of security at Transport for London (TfL), singled out the jackets as one of the top stolen items on the Tube last month.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, she said: ‘Canada Goose coats, some North Face [coats] – they are targeted for robbery.
‘It’s a real concern to us because it really impacts on the safety of young people on the network.’
The spate of clothes thefts was counted among a 108% rise in robberies on the London Underground and a wider 56% rise in crime.
Criminology professor David Wilson, of Birmingham City University, told the MailOnline a ‘new spate of luxury item muggings’ could be starting.
He added: ‘I would tell anyone wearing Canada Goose jackets to be careful and be aware of your surroundings and who’s around you.’
Chief Superintendent Chris Casey of the British Transport Police said: ‘We use a variety of tactics to ensure journeys stay safe including uniform and plain clothes patrols, and thousands of CCTV cameras.
‘We also work closely with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Roads & Transport Team and security staff from TfL and rail operators.
‘We have increased our presence across the London rail network and across hotspot areas to deter opportunistic thieves and ensure passengers feel safe.’
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