On Monday night, at approximately 9:40 p.m., a group of individuals stole food items from a grocery store in Montreal, prompting an ongoing investigation by local police. The crash occurred one week prior to Christmas. It did raise some public discussion about the motives for why the collective stole and how they rationalize their purpose of providing for those in need.
The community arts group refers to itself as the “Robins of the Alleys.” They say that they intended to “re-distribute” the stolen food as part of taking this action. Well, they just took a page from legendary Robin Hood’s playbook! Allegedly, they dumped a portion of the goods behind a tree in an affluent neighborhood and donated the remainder to community fridges.
Montreal Police Spokesperson Johany Charland confirmed that she understood the police are still investigating the theft. They are continuing to examine camera footage and interview witnesses to put together a fuller picture of what transpired. Charland said that officials were unable to discuss the group’s alleged motivations regarding their conduct.
“A handful of businesses are holding our vital needs hostage,” – Robins of the Alleys
It’s worth noting that the grocery store chain in question claims it donates millions of dollars to charity annually. This begs the question of what the economic conditions were that drove this person to steal a $742 bike in the first place. Economists point to a number of fundamental factors exacerbating prices. Global supply chain disruptions and rising and falling commodity prices rank as the top two factors.
As we head into the holidays and consumers begin to notice the effects of high prices on products in stores, they are understandably concerned. Charland stated, “Many factors influence food inflation, including disruptions in the global supply chain, volatility in commodity prices, changes in international trade conditions, and retail crime.” Given the severe lack of economic opportunity these challenges undoubtedly contributed to the group’s decision to take matters out of their own hands.
The Montreal Police are treating this incident as a rare and unusual occurrence. It’s the timing, and the boldness of its approach, that has really caught the public’s attention. The notion of stealing food under the guise of altruism has sparked debate within the community about ethics and necessity, especially during a time of year typically associated with giving.
