Nova Scotia

Halloween candy tampering suspected in Cape Breton

Cape Breton Police are investigating a report of possible candy tampering.

'This is not a joke and you're hurting little kids,' says father of girl who found wire in candy

A parent in the Cantley Village neighbourhood of Coxheath, near Sydney, contacted investigators Friday after his daughter reportedly found two pieces of wire, each about six millimetres long, inside caramel candy. (Gary Mansfield/CBC)

Cape Breton Regional Police are investigating a report of Halloween candy tampering.

Police spokeswoman Shannon Kerr said a parent in the Cantley Village neighbourhood of Coxheath, near Sydney, contacted investigators Friday after his 10-year-old daughter reportedly found two pieces of wire, each about six millimetres long, inside caramel candy.

"She was scared," said the girl's father, Lewis MacLeod. "She didn't actually want anymore of her Halloween treats. She wanted to throw them away."

MacLeod said he was angry at the thought that someone would tamper with candy, either as a joke or to cause harm to a child. But he doesn't want Halloween ruined for his children by one incident.

"For now, we're cutting all the treats open," he said, "and making sure there's nothing in them, and absolutely making sure the packages aren't torn, which we did Halloween night but how closely can you inspect the candy?"

MacLeod told police his daughter trick-or-treated on Anderson Avenue, McKinley Drive, Doyle Avenue, MacKenzie Drive, Keefe Avenue, and Sharples Avenue in Cantley Village.

He has a message for whoever tampered with the candy his child received: "Grow up, smarten up. This is not a joke and you're hurting little kids."

Police remind parents to check all Halloween treats and report any tampering to them.