What to know
- A Montreal group called Robins des Ruelles, dressed as Santas and elves, stole around $3,000 in groceries from a Montreal grocery store, then left the food under a Christmas tree for the community.
- The group framed the theft as a protest against rising food prices and corporate greed, highlighting the contrast between executive salaries and low-wage workers.
- Police are investigating; no one was injured or arrested, and the act has sparked mixed public reactions, with some praising the gesture and others warning of potential negative consequences.
A group who have dubbed themselves Robins des Ruelles, which translates to Robins of the Alleys, dressed up like Santas and elves to rob a Metro grocery store in Montreal.
Johany Tharland, a spokesperson for Montreal Police, told Now Toronto that they received a call on Dec. 15 at around 9:40 p.m. about a group of people who robbed a Metro grocery store in Montreal, in the Le Plateau-Mont-Royal borough of the city.
Police say that no one was injured during the incident, and no arrests have been made. An investigation is ongoing.
A group claiming to be responsible for the act says they took thousands of dollars’ worth of food.
“We know we are not alone. Anyone can organize and become a Robin of the alleys. This gesture was first and foremost an invitation,” reads an Instagram statement from Robins des Ruelles and shared by activist group Les Soulèvements du Fleuve that was translated to English.
The statement claims the group is responsible for stealing $3,000 worth of food before leaving the groceries under a Christmas tree at Place Simon-Valois in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
The post continued on to say that Metro President Eric Laflèche allegedly earns a salary of $6.1 million, while Metro employees are paid minimum wage to watch other poor people scanning their items at self-checkouts that are “fenced, guarded and monitored by an employee, security guards and cameras at all angles.”
“The red alarm at the checkout is triggered by the slightest inaccurate weight on the scales. But what about the weight of hunger?” Robins des Ruelles’ statement continues.
The group explained that they have witnessed people crying at the grocery store, elderly people stealing from the dollar store, and people trying to make ends meet with canned food.
“Robins des Ruelles are like all these people, caught in a system that benefits from their empty bellies.”
“A handful of corporations are holding our basic needs hostage. They continue to stifle the population, siphoning off as much money as possible, simply because they can. For us, that’s theft, and they are the real criminals,” Les Soulèvements du Fleuve shared in another post, which includes a video of the group at the grocery store.
METRO RESPONDS
The grocery retailer called the act unacceptable.
“It is important to emphasize that retail crime is on the rise, and no matter the reason, it is unacceptable and a criminal act,” Metro Communications Manager Geneviève Grégoire told Now Toronto.
Grégoire says it should be noted that as a retailer, Metro is the final stop in the supply chain.
“Many factors influence food inflation, including disruptions in the global supply chain, volatility in commodity prices, changes in international trade conditions, and retail crime. The prices on store shelves directly reflect the costs of the supply chain.”
Grégoire added that the company made $8.6 million worth of corporate donations in 2025, including $1.15 million to food banks, while they also donated $81.6 million worth of food.
PUBLIC RESPONSE
Online, many people can’t get enough of the Robins des Ruelles.
“Your bravery is inspiring and your humanity does the heart good!” one person said on Instagram.
“These are people who represent not only the people, but the true spirit of Christmas. Well done, comrades!” another person commented.
“Metro gives back $8.6 million in corporate donations TO SAVE TAXES.”
Meanwhile, others feel it’s a bad plan.
“If this happened frequently, it’s just making us harder in the long run to shop in big stores. Like they add security protocol going in and out of the shop etc, maybe mandated to open masks when entering and exiting the building etc.,” one person said on Reddit.
“I certainly understand the impulse because f**k giant corporations raising food prices….but stuff like this doesn’t actually lead to anywhere good,” another person said. “Do it enough and the location will close, creating a food desert for the people living there. And if you want to help the food banks/the local community, there’s a lot more effective ways to do so.”
