Muggers Target Marmot Jackets

While you may not know the Marmot name, robbers in the city sure do.

Last month, 11 jackets were stolen off the backs of children, six of which were the Marmot brand, law enforcement officials said. Also stolen were two North Face jackets and three of unknown brands, police officials said.

The 11 seemingly separate and unrelated crimes occurred in the first half of December in Upper Manhattan. Two or more suspects would approach a male, age 11 to 18, and use physical force or a weapon to peel off or demand his jacket, police officials said.

Police have captured three suspects - one who allegedly used a B.B. gun to swipe an 11-year-old's outerwear, and two of four suspects who allegedly brandished firearms to rob a 15-year-old.

A Marmot spokesman, Thomas Fritz, said via e-mail, "We don't take any comfort at all that kids want to steal Marmot jackets more than other brands. ... We have over 700 items in our line. ... We don't know if these are kids' jackets or adult jackets, nor do we know if they are men's or women's jackets. So we can't hazard a guess as to what they are stealing or why."

A store manager for Paragon Sports on Broadway between 17th and 18th streets, Robert Falck, offered an explanation. "Marmot by nature has a very loyal following," Mr. Falck said.

Selling for up to $600 each, the Marmot jackets are "really reliable, really well made," and the company has a great return policy, the store supervisor for Sonoma Outfitters, Miranda Nowell, said. Of the eight to 10 jacket brands Sonoma Outfitters sells in its California store and online, Marmot is one of the top three, Ms. Nowell said.