Thieves on bikes steal $10K of meat from Montreal-area Christmas charity

Police on Montreal's South Shore are investigating after boxes of meat, worth roughly $10,000, were stolen from a non-profit organization.

Surveillance camera footage from the Action Nouvelle Vie's warehouse in Longueuil, Que., shows two individuals breaking into a refrigerated trailer and loading up their bike trailers with the boxes in the dead of night earlier this week.

They then rolled away with a few hundred kilograms of food that was destined to help feed more than 2,000 families.

The group says it's put their Christmas basket program in jeopardy.

"Knowing that a lot of meat disappeared just like that, that was meant for families at Christmas, is pretty shocking and sad," said head of communications Jérémie Olivier.

"We were sad because we know the needs of the families and the needs are increasing."

A spokesperson for the Longueuil police said they're looking into the theft, hoping any witnesses will come forward. But she also said this kind of theft is common around the holiday season.

"People know that these organizations have a lot of food because the holidays are coming up, so they get a lot of stuff, much more than the other months during the year," said Const. Jacqueline Pierre.

And the situation is getting worse with rising food costs. It's something that's leaving food banks and other organizations worried.

"We're highly concerned by the fact that people are becoming more and more desperate, and poverty is touching more and more people," said Véronique Beaulieu-Fowler, director of philanthropy at Food Banks of Quebec.

She said this theft in Longueuil showcases the vulnerability of a lot of people.

As for Action Nouvelle Vie, Olivier said there were four thieves altogether. They used hand tools to break into the trailer, which was backed up to a loading dock. They were then able to pass the boxes out through a small gap. He said they made multiple trips to and from the site, using electric bikes to haul the food away.

The truck was nearly completely emptied. The boxes included chicken, beef and smoked meat.

The community organization provides a myriad of services that support community members in need.

One of those services is a Christmas food basket program that is organized every holiday season, giving away 2,200 baskets and thousands of gifts for children.

The organization is asking the public to help recoup the losses so it can keep the holiday tradition alive this year despite the substantial loss.

Olivier said the community has been stepping up this week, donating goods and money.

"We have a month to fill those baskets," said Olivier. "We're confident we are going to face that challenge and fill those baskets."