Butter bandits: Five people charged in multiple thefts across the region

Five people are charged in connection to multiple butter and ghee thefts throughout Waterloo Region.

Police said in a press release that the accused stole over $8,000 in products from grocery stores in Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo. Officials said that the 15 incidents took place between September 2024 and February 2025.

As a result a 38-year-old male, a 32-year-old male, a 25-year-old female, and a 24-year-old male, all from Brampton, and a 29-year-old male from Caledon have been charged with offences including theft under $5,000.

The investigation is still active, as police say they are hoping to speak with two people in relation to a theft from a Cambridge store in February.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 519-570-9777, extension 6349.

Butter disappearing in other cities

Waterloo Region is not the only place where thieves have targeted butter.

Guelph police have responded to nine reported large-scale butter thefts since December 2023.

In one situation, officials are looking for two males who entered a business at separate times on Speedvale Avenue East. They put a number of items inside a cart, including three cases of butter that have a value of $936. They left out of the receiving door.

A Brantford store at Lynden Road and Wayne Gretsky Parkway had about $1,200 worth of butter stolen.

Scott Tracey, media relations coordinator for Guelph Police, said at the time officials were not sure if the incidents are connected.

“This is probably something that’s happening everywhere. I don’t there’s anything about Guelph or now Brantford that is particularly appealing to people who are looking to steal this product. It’s just that we have put out the media releases and made people aware of it, but I suspect this is something happening all across Ontario,” he said previously.

With files from Justine Fraser, CityNews Kitchener.