Ottawa police are investigating a report of a sewing needle found inside a chocolate bar collected during Halloween trick-or-treating.
The Ottawa Police Service said the discovery was reported on Tuesday, Nov. 3, after a parent found the needle in a chocolate bar believed to have been collected in the Prince of Wales and Chinatown areas.
Police have not said whether the needle was embedded when the bar was handed out or whether any other candy has been affected, but investigators are treating the report seriously and are asking families across the city to take a closer look at this year's haul.
What police are asking parents to do
As a precaution, the Ottawa Police Service said, parents and caregivers should carefully inspect children's Halloween candy before it is eaten. That includes checking packaging for signs of tampering, such as small holes, tears or broken seals.
Anyone who finds suspicious candy is being told not to eat it and not to throw it away. According to the Ottawa Police Service, the item and its packaging should be kept intact and police contacted directly at 613-236-1222, extension 7300.
Why the area matters
The report points to candy collected in the Prince of Wales Drive and Chinatown corridors, south and east of the city's downtown core, both neighbourhoods that see heavy foot traffic from trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident, and police have not released information about a suspect.
Members of the public can view and download police data through the Community Safety Data portal at data.ottawapolice.ca, and residents can register their security camera locations at CAMSafe.ca to support investigations.
