Group Dressed as Santa and Elves Robs Montreal Supermarket to Protest Cost of Living
A group dressed as Santa and elves robbed a Montreal supermarket, stealing thousands of dollars' worth of groceries in a late-Monday theft.
About 40 members of Robins des Ruelles (Robins of the Alleys) took part in the event, stating the groceries would be distributed to the needy as a protest against the rising cost of living.
The group framed the action as a Robin Hood-style stunt, alleging that inflation-driven profits by corporations are squeezing ordinary people.
Metro Canada described the act as criminal theft and mentioned factors such as supply-chain disruptions, commodity price volatility, and changes in international trade as context.
Retail crime rose in 2024, with the Retail Council of Canada reporting it accounted for more than $9 billion in lost sales.
A portion of the stolen groceries was deposited in a public square by a Christmas tree on Tuesday evening, while the rest were to be distributed through community food banks.
Police are investigating the incident, with no arrests reported at the time of the report.
