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In mid May and into early July of 2022 the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) has been investigating multiple incidents of plastic bottles being thrown onto residents’ properties.

More than 50 incidents have occurred across Niagara on the Lake, Grimsby, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Thorold, Pelham and Welland.  The incidents are believed to be occurring overnight.  The residents awake to find a plastic bottle containing an unknown yellow fluid on their property, sometimes in the backyard. 

Several of the bottles have been seized and forensically examined by detectives from the NRPS Forensic Service Unit.  Testing on the yellow fluid has found it to be not volatile, however caution is recommended.  Residents are asked to minimize their physical contact with the bottle until our officers attend or we give them other direction.

We cannot rule out that this may also be a vetting technique by criminals to determine whether a homeowner is present.  We would encourage homeowners to frequently check their properties and if they are going on vacation to have a trusted person do it for them.

Generally, the bottles are appearing with no associated damage or theft.

We would also recommend homeowners consider the use of:

  • Motion lighting
  • Quality closed circuit cameras
  • Locked gates and doors

Reporting - Please do not email individual officers to report incidents.  We do not take reports via email or social media.

Members of the public who find a bottle of yellow fluid on their property and / or may have suspect information are asked to call our non-emergency number 905-688-4111 "dispatch" to report it. 

Members of the public who wish to report an incident of a bottle of yellow fluid on their property but have no suspect information and have already disposed of the bottle are asked to submit an online report.

Anyone with information is asked to contact our officers at 905-688-4111, extension 1022200

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.  Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

Click Here For Crime Stoppers Online  

2022-70629