Thefts of Canada Goose jackets are escalating in the nation’s capital to the point where the issue is beginning to attract the attention of members of Congress.

The brand’s down coats have been a target for criminals looking to make a quick buck for years due to their high price tag. Even a used coat will fetch upward of $500, while their higher-end products approach $2,000.

Police in the capital have been warning about criminals brazenly targeting Canada Goose wearers since February, but now the issue is starting to attract the attention of some of the people that pull on the nation’s levers of power.

Area colleges also issued warnings to students concerning the expensive outerwear last month, with George Washington University telling students: “Victims’ jackets have been removed and, in some cases, weapons have been brandished.”

Senator Lee accused the Washington, D.C., city council of “encouraging lawlessness,” saying that Congress should not have delegated its power over the capital to a “third party.”

“Time to relieve DC government of its authority over our nation’s capital city, which belongs to Congress under Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution,” Mr. Lee tweeted in response to an article about people getting mugged for their Canada Goose jackets.

Washington, though, isn’t the only place where thieves have been targeting people for their Canada Goose jackets. In Chicago, a Canada Goose store was targeted on the Magnificent Miles in January, and in Boston, people have been stealing coats from gym lockers as well as off people’s backs.

“It begins in October,” a Boston University Police Department lieutenant, Dan Healy, told BU Today. “That’s when we see jackets start to disappear.”

While petty criminals stealing property from lockers or muggers stealing expensive clothing from people on the street is not new, the situation in D.C. gave Mr. Lee an opportunity to breathe new life into a political argument over who is in charge of the country’s capital.

Earlier this week, President Biden signed a resolution into law that blocked a criminal justice reform bill passed by the Washington city council. The resolution was pushed by Republicans, but saw some bipartisan support, including from the president, who initially said he would veto the resolution. He later reversed himself and said he would approve it.

The part of the bill that caused the most commotion on Capitol Hill was its adjustments to minimum and maximum sentences for a variety of crimes.

“The debate over the DC crime law has gone a bit off the rails. It lowers the carjacking maximum to 24 years, but that’s IN LINE with many states,” Senator Murphy wrote in early March. “And the bill INCREASES sentences for attempted murder, attempted sexual assault, misdemeanor sexual abuse and many other crimes.”

Republicans, however, jumped on the opportunity to portray Democrats, who had initially planned to let the city council’s decision stand, as “soft on crime.”

“The district should set a nationwide example by enacting legislation that makes its residents and visitors safer — not less safe,” Senator Hagerty, who sponsored the resolution opposing the bill, said in a statement.

Ultimately, it appears that the attacks from Republicans were what swayed the president. He appears to be trying to tack to the political center by blocking the city council’s justice reform bill, approving of a large oil project, and enacting new border security measures.

“I support D.C. Statehood and home-rule — but I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayor’s objections — such as lowering penalties for carjackings,” Mr. Biden said. “If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did — I’ll sign it.”