Santa-clad thieves steal groceries in Montreal

A group of individuals dressed in Santa Claus and elf costumes made off with cartloads of groceries from a supermarket in Montreal just days before Christmas, an incident that has since drawn attention after an activist group claimed responsibility and framed the act as a form of protest against rising food prices.

According to Montreal police, the incident occurred around 9:40 p.m. on Monday at a Metro grocery store in the city. Police spokesperson Johany Charland told CNN that investigators believe the stolen items were food, though the total value has not yet been disclosed.

Authorities are reviewing security footage and interviewing witnesses. Police declined to comment on the motive cited by the group that later claimed responsibility.

The activist collective Les Soulèvements du Fleuve posted an edited video on Instagram showing several people in Santa suits and elf hats quickly loading groceries into carts and exiting the store. In accompanying posts, the group described the act as a “Robin Hood”-style operation, saying the stolen food was redistributed to people in need.

The group claimed that the groceries were handed out by individuals they called the “Robins of the Alleys,” with some items allegedly left under a Christmas tree in a Montreal neighborhood and others placed in community fridges. While photos of gift bags under a tree were shared online, no video footage of the redistribution itself was posted.

In a statement shared on social media, Les Soulèvements du Fleuve criticized large businesses, accusing them of profiting from essential goods amid economic strain. “A handful of businesses are holding our vital needs hostage,” the group said, adding that soaring prices amount to theft against the public.