Around 60 masked activists stormed a Rachelle Béry grocery store in Montreal on the evening of February 3, 2026, filling carts with thousands of dollars worth of food, medicine, and hygiene products before leaving without paying. The group, known as Robins des Ruelles, then redistributed the stolen items through community fridges across the city and directly to residents outside low-income housing in the Hochelaga district. They framed the raid as a direct challenge to Canada’s persistent food price crisis, where many families struggle to afford basics despite working multiple jobs.
Surveillance footage circulating online captures the coordinated action in stark detail. Multiple camera angles show participants in dark winter clothing, some sporting green feathered hats evoking Robin Hood, methodically grabbing items like protein bars, supplements, oils, and canned goods from shelves marked with prices such as $13.49 and $19.99. They move quickly but calmly through the brightly lit aisles, spray-painting over security cameras to obscure views, and later tagging exterior walls with messages like “F**k Les Profits” and “vole un voleur” — French for “steal from a thief.”
The activists targeted corporate grocery profits as the core issue, arguing that supermarket chains continue to post massive earnings while everyday Canadians face unbearable costs. In their statement, one member explained that relentless work barely covers food purchases in these stores, and when holding two jobs still leaves families unable to eat or secure housing, extreme measures feel justified. This raid echoes their December 2025 action, when members dressed as Santa Claus and elves hit a Metro store, stealing and sharing goods in a similar protest that also avoided arrests.
Police have launched an investigation into theft and mischief, reviewing footage and witness accounts, though no injuries occurred and no suspects have been detained yet. The incident highlights broader economic strains, with grocery prices in Canada rising over 20% in recent years — far outpacing wage growth and overall inflation. While the group’s tactics have sparked debate, with some praising the aid to vulnerable residents and others condemning the criminal approach for potentially driving up retail costs through insurance claims, it underscores a deepening frustration that traditional advocacy has failed to resolve.
