Calgary food tampering

hcu-c · Apr 2nd, 2010, 18:14

Calgary's police chief slammed the "idiots" behind a rash of food tampering in the city, as two locations of the Real Canadian Superstore became the latest targets.

A woman had blended fruit from the Shawnessy Superstore into a smoothie and was about to feed it to her 22-month-old daughter when she noticed metal shards at the bottom of the drink, police said Friday.

In the second latest case, a metal object was found in an orange from the Deerfoot Meadows Superstore on Heritage Meadows Road S.E.

There have now been a total of 11 food-tampering cases at nine different grocery stores across the city since January.

"We're frustrated because a few idiots, who for motives that are known only to them, are causing so much anxiety, putting so many people potentially at risk," police Chief Rick Hanson said Friday.

Metal objects, including push pins, have been found in ground beef, baked goods, cheese, produce and bulk foods at Co-op, Sobeys, Safeway and Buy-Low Foods stores. Police have not specified the exact nature of the metal objects for investigative reasons.

A woman was charged on March 17 with mischief over $5,000 in connection with just one of those food-tampering occasions. Despite that arrest, the incidents have continued.
Discouraging copycats

The latest two cases were reported to police on Thursday night, after they said they feared that copycats are continuing the disturbing incidents.

"The public needs to know that this is out there so they can take appropriate cautions," Hanson said Friday.

'We do have to put a chill on whatever thrill some people are getting out of perpetuating this.'—Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson

"The greater issue and one that we're concerned about is, when fuelling others who maybe are just thrill-seekers or think it's a joke or whatever, our efforts to educate the public is being used by them to perpetuate more acts."

No one has been hurt in any of the incidents, but Hanson emphasized that relevant Criminal Code charges, especially if injury or death result, bring a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Hanson said the police will no longer be holding news conferences on food tampering to discourage false reports as well as copycats.
Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson holds a news conference on Friday. Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson holds a news conference on Friday. (CBC)

"We do have to put a chill on whatever thrill some people are getting out of perpetuating this."

Investigators continued to emphasize the need for consumers to thoroughly check their grocery items at home.

Grocery chains say they have already added extra security measures in recent weeks. Industry experts said the cost of drastically increasing security such as installing more surveillance cameras or hiring more guards would only be passed on to consumers.

Police revised the total number of cases from 12 to 11 after consolidating two early complaints into one case.

The Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, which represents major grocery chains including those targeted, is offering a $10,000 reward for an arrest and conviction.

Apr 2nd, 2010, 18:14	#1
hcu-c Senior Member 注册日期: Mar 2008 帖子: 1,128	Calgary food tampering Calgary's police chief slammed the "idiots" behind a rash of food tampering in the city, as two locations of the Real Canadian Superstore became the latest targets. A woman had blended fruit from the Shawnessy Superstore into a smoothie and was about to feed it to her 22-month-old daughter when she noticed metal shards at the bottom of the drink, police said Friday. In the second latest case, a metal object was found in an orange from the Deerfoot Meadows Superstore on Heritage Meadows Road S.E. There have now been a total of 11 food-tampering cases at nine different grocery stores across the city since January. "We're frustrated because a few idiots, who for motives that are known only to them, are causing so much anxiety, putting so many people potentially at risk," police Chief Rick Hanson said Friday. Metal objects, including push pins, have been found in ground beef, baked goods, cheese, produce and bulk foods at Co-op, Sobeys, Safeway and Buy-Low Foods stores. Police have not specified the exact nature of the metal objects for investigative reasons. A woman was charged on March 17 with mischief over $5,000 in connection with just one of those food-tampering occasions. Despite that arrest, the incidents have continued. Discouraging copycats The latest two cases were reported to police on Thursday night, after they said they feared that copycats are continuing the disturbing incidents. "The public needs to know that this is out there so they can take appropriate cautions," Hanson said Friday. 'We do have to put a chill on whatever thrill some people are getting out of perpetuating this.'—Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson "The greater issue and one that we're concerned about is, when fuelling others who maybe are just thrill-seekers or think it's a joke or whatever, our efforts to educate the public is being used by them to perpetuate more acts." No one has been hurt in any of the incidents, but Hanson emphasized that relevant Criminal Code charges, especially if injury or death result, bring a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Hanson said the police will no longer be holding news conferences on food tampering to discourage false reports as well as copycats. Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson holds a news conference on Friday. Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson holds a news conference on Friday. (CBC) "We do have to put a chill on whatever thrill some people are getting out of perpetuating this." Investigators continued to emphasize the need for consumers to thoroughly check their grocery items at home. Grocery chains say they have already added extra security measures in recent weeks. Industry experts said the cost of drastically increasing security such as installing more surveillance cameras or hiring more guards would only be passed on to consumers. Police revised the total number of cases from 12 to 11 after consolidating two early complaints into one case. The Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, which represents major grocery chains including those targeted, is offering a $10,000 reward for an arrest and conviction.
hcu-c Senior Member 注册日期: Mar 2008 帖子: 1,128