In a bizarre holiday-themed incident, a group of activists dressed as Father Christmas and his elves allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of groceries from a supermarket in Montreal, Canada.
The Festive Heist: Details of the Incident
The alleged robbery took place on Monday evening, around 9:15 p.m., at a Metro grocery store on Laurier Avenue in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough. Social media photos and videos appear to show individuals wearing Santa and elf costumes filling reusable bags and shopping carts with food before leaving the store without paying.
The group responsible, Robins des ruelles (Robins of the Alley), claimed the act in an Instagram post. They stated that four masked "Santa Clauses" and a "swarm of elves" conducted what they called a symbolic "food drive." The activists said the stolen goods, valued at roughly $3,000, were later redistributed to community fridges across Montreal and under a public Christmas tree in Place Valois.
Activist Justification and Corporate Backlash
In a statement translated from French, the activist group defended their actions. "A handful of corporations are holding our basic needs hostage," the post read. "They continue to exploit the population... For us, that's what constitutes theft, and they are the real bandits."
Metro, the grocery chain, strongly condemned the act. Spokesperson Geneviève Grégoire told CBC News, "No matter the reason, it is unacceptable and a criminal act." She highlighted the broader issue of retail crime, which resulted in losses of $9.2 billion in Canada in 2024. Grégoire also cited factors influencing food inflation and noted Metro's own 2025 donations of $1.15 million to food banks.
Police Investigation and Economic Context
Montreal police confirmed they are reviewing videos of the incident. As of Thursday, no arrests had been made. The heist occurred on the same day Statistics Canada reported that grocery price inflation hit a nearly two-year high in November, with food costs rising 4.7 percent year-over-year—more than double the overall inflation rate of 2.2 percent.
This event starkly illustrates the growing tensions over food affordability and corporate responsibility amidst a cost-of-living crisis, even as it takes the form of an unusual, festive-themed protest.
