Khaberni - In a scene that seemed close to Robin Hood tales, a group of thieves dressed as Santa Claus stormed a grocery store in Canada, and stole carts full of food before redistributing them to the residents of poor neighborhoods in Montreal.
According to Montreal police, a number of "masked and disguised individuals" entered the Metro grocery store on Monday and began snatching food items off the shelves in a swift operation that was documented in photos and video.
Protest against rising prices
According to the "New York Post", a group of activists calling themselves "Robins des ruelles", quickly claimed responsibility for the operation via social media, stating that the theft was part of what they described as a "major campaign to secure food", protesting against rising prices and the record profits being made by major store chains.
According to the group, the stolen food, valued at about $3000, was distributed under a Christmas tree in one of Montreal's neighborhoods, and some was placed in community fridges open to those in need.
Justification
The group justified their actions by accusing major corporations of "holding basic needs hostage", considering that raising prices under the pretense of inflation is "the real theft".
Despite the wide wave of sympathy the incident received on social media, Metro chain spokesperson Geneviève Grégoire, in statements to "CBC", emphasized that theft remains a crime regardless of the motives, noting that the company participated in extensive charitable initiatives in 2025, including donating more than $1.15 million to food banks, in addition to millions of dollars in food donations.
Meanwhile, the police continue to review surveillance camera footage, without having announced any suspects so far, while the incident remains a topic of debate between those who see it as a protest action with a social dimension, and those who consider it a blatant violation of the law, no matter the humanitarian slogans it carries.
