Police issue public advisory to travel in groups and stay vigilant. Photo credit: Hamilton Police Service
Hamilton Police issued a public advisory on Friday, warning festival-goers of a “concerning uptick in youth-related robberies and swarming incidents” at community festivals and fairs.
So far, police have identified multiple incidents at four different festivals throughout August and September.
The public advisory says that the first incident occurred when a group of youths surrounded a young male and robbed him of his cross-body bag on August 4 around 10:30PM at the Festival of Friends at Gage Park.
That appears to be the only incident that has resulted in an arrest so far, with a 15-year-old male facing robbery charges.
Police say multiple similar incidents occurred at the Winona Peach Festival on August 26, as well as “various physical altercations among teenagers” throughout that weekend.
Then, two weeks ago, police say there was a physical altercation between two females at the Binbrook Fair at approximately 7:15PM “in which 50 onlookers were not only present but also actively encouraging the incident by filming it.”
It was following the Binbrook Fair that police issued the public advisory, but then there were more incidents at the Ancaster Fair last weekend, prompting police to release yet another statement.
The latest statement released on Sunday (Sept. 24) says that four incidents were reported at the Ancaster Fair.
Those incidents included “multiple swarmings” which typically involve a group of people surrounding a victim/victims and either robbing or hurting them.
One youth was even transported to hospital, although fortunately injuries were minor.
Hamilton Police spokesperson Const. Indy Bharaj told The Hamilton Independent that they believe the incidents are actually underreported.
He also says that the investigative process for these incidents is challenging.
“Given that these incidents unfold rapidly and violently, and considering the shock experienced by the victims, providing accurate descriptions of their assailants proves to be nearly impossible.”
Rockton World’s Fair on Thanksgiving Weekend
Bharaj says that police are looking at a number of different additional measures in advance of the Rockton World’s Fair held on the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend.
Those measures include increasing the security presence and looking at the possibility of having mounted officers in attendance.
The festival runs from Thursday, October 5 to Monday, October 9 in the Hamilton community of Rockton. The town has held the event since 1852.
Bharaj also adds that, in issuing a public advisory Hamilton Police do not want to “discourage attendance at these cherished community events, but to enhance safety and security.”
Flamborough-Glanbrook Member of Parliament Dan Muys, whose riding includes the community of Rockton, echoed Bharaj’s message.
“The fall fairs are important celebrations of community. We can’t let a few very unfortunate incidents deter the tireless work of thousands of volunteers, staff and agricultural society board members in each community,” Muys said.
He adds that Rockton World’s Fair is “a Thanksgiving tradition” that he has been attending since he was five years old.
He notes that he will have a booth at the fair and is confident that event staff, security, and Hamilton Police will help keep the festival safe.
Nevertheless, police still encourage members of the public to avoid displaying valuables, travel in groups, and be aware of their surroundings.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
