The Robins des Ruelles said roughly 60 people wearing Robin Hood–style caps entered a Rachelle Béry health‑food store in Montreal, took food and essentials without paying and redistributed them to community fridges as a political protest against rising prices. Montreal police have opened an investigation, estimated the loss at "thousands of dollars," and reported no injuries or arrests so far. The action mirrors a December incident when the same group, dressed as Santa Claus and elves, staged a similar raid.
Robin Hood‑Style Activists Raid Montreal Health‑Food Shop, Redistribute Stolen Goods to Protest Rising Prices
A group of activists inspired by Robin Hood in Montreal said they raided a grocery store for food, then left some of the spoils outside of an apartment building nearby, "courtesy of the Robins des Ruelles." - Les Soulèvements du Fleuve/@soulevementsdufleuve
A group calling itself the Robins des Ruelles said about 60 people wearing Robin Hood–style caps entered a Rachelle Béry health‑food store in Montreal on Tuesday evening, took food and other essentials without paying, and redistributed the items to community fridges across the city as a political protest against rising food costs.
What Happened: According to the group and local authorities, participants moved through aisles taking food, medicine, soap and other necessities. An edited video published on Instagram by the activist collective Les Soulèvements du Fleuve intercuts footage of the raid with the opening credits of the 1938 film The Adventures of Robin Hood.
The video shows masked people gathering items while others are seen spray‑painting over security cameras inside and outside the store. Near the end of the clip, a person sprays a slogan on a brick wall reading "F**k Les Profits." The Robins des Ruelles said the stolen goods were placed into several community fridges throughout Montreal.
Activists graffitied "vole un voleur," or "steal from a thief" on the outside of a grocery store before raiding the shelves for food. - Les Soulèvements du Fleuve/@soulevementsdufleuve
Police Response: Montreal police media relations officer Jean‑Pierre Brabant told CNN that an investigation was opened into both the theft and the graffiti. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made so far. Brabant said officers did not have an exact inventory of the stolen items but estimated the value at "thousands of dollars," a figure similar to the one cited by the activists. Police have not yet recovered the items.
Background: The action echoed a December incident in which members of the same collective reportedly entered a Montreal grocery store dressed as Santa Claus and elves, took food and left some items gift‑wrapped under a nearby Christmas tree. Brabant said that incident remains under investigation and that no arrests have been announced.
Rising living costs are a prominent issue in Canada. According to CBC — CNN's Canadian broadcast partner — inflation rose 4.7% between November 2024 and November 2025, a jump activists cited as a motivation for the protest.
CNN has contacted Rachelle Béry’s parent company, Sobeys, for comment. The investigation by Montreal police is ongoing.
Quote: In a statement shared by Robins des Ruelles, a member identified as Francis said, "Every day we work relentlessly only to be able to buy food in those profit‑driven supermarkets. When having two jobs is not enough to eat, have a roof over your head and take care of your family, every means become legitimate."
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