Needle found in Halloween candy

WHITBY -- Halloween was a lot scarier for a local family after a parent found a needle in a piece of Halloween candy last night.

Durham Regional Police are urging parents to check what their kids’ brought home after trick or treating.

Police say a two-inch needle, partly visible, was found inserted into a Tootsie Roll in Whitby. The candy was collected in the vicinity of Centre Street North, Palmerston Avenue, Fulton Crescent and McBrien Court in Whitby.

“Incidents like these are disturbing, to think that somebody would actually do this,” said Detective Larry Nobbs of the 18 Division Criminal Investigations Branch. “Fortunately, intervention happened and no injuries. But it could certainly have been tragically worse.”

He said the child’s mother did exactly the right thing, examining the candy her child had collected before allowing it to be eaten. While she was doing so, the parent “saw a collection that didn’t look like it was packaged as it should be,” said Det. Nobbs. Upon further investigation she found the needle, which he described as “like a regular, sewing-type needle” as opposed to a hypodermic needle.

“If you haven’t gone through junior’s candies, get on that right now,” he advised.

If anyone has any information relating to this incident, they can call the 18 Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 1833. If anyone finds tampered candy from elsewhere across the Region, contact the DRPS general line at 1-888-579-1520 to file a report.

Anonymous tips can be made to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.