How does a sleepy town like Alliston wake up on an average weekday? Well, not usually to the screech of sirens and the crunch of shattered glass, and yet, that’s exactly what happened this past Tuesday.
Early in the morning on March 25, 2025, at precisely 5:16 a.m., Nottawasaga OPP officers were dispatched to a scene that could only be described as chaotic. An alarm call quickly revealed that the Shoppers Drug Mart on Victoria Street East had become the latest target in a calculated smash-and-grab robbery. The loot? Over $25,000 in beauty products and an extra $1,000 worth of electronics were swept away quicker than you can say “midnight moisturizer run.” That’s right, beauty thieves – and these weren’t your average shoplifters. Oh no, they came prepared, ready to crash and dash.
According to the Ontario Provincial Police, three unidentified suspects—believed to be male—smashed through the front door of the pharmacy, likely startling more than just the mannequins on display. Surveillance footage hints they made a hasty exit eastward on Victoria Street in an older silver Ford Escape, a model dating between 2007 and 2012. Now, I don’t want to assume, but let’s all admit silver Ford Escapes just got a whole lot less innocent.
The suspects, described but not yet apprehended, each had their sense of style for the occasion. One sported a black winter jacket paired with light blue jeans—the rebel of fashion crimes, surely. Another chose a black hat and balaclava combo with grey joggers, taking athleisure to a whole new level of questionable decision-making. The last suspect? All black everything, topped off with white-and-black running shoes, because apparently, even burglars contrast their footwear.
In a town like Alliston, where the most exciting thing on some mornings might be deciding between coffee or tea, this incident has everyone buzzing. Neighbours are now scouring their camera footage, fingers hovering above playback buttons, trying to catch any snippet of the thieves’ escapade. Police have encouraged anyone who spotted ‘suspicious activity’ between 4 a.m. and 5:16 a.m. to come forward. And if you’re inquisitive but camera-less, the incident reference number is E250356760—a little detail that makes you feel like you’re part of some noir flick.
What makes this crime so perplexing isn’t just the well-planned getaway or the precise timing but the loot itself. The sheer specificity of $25,000 worth of beauty products raises an eyebrow—and probably did so literally for the robbers with some high-end eyebrow gel. Was it a heist for profit? Or is there an underground beauty ring where skincare enthusiasts barter stolen serums with whispers of anti-aging secrets? Who can say?
This isn’t the first time Alliston has been on edge over a crime, but it is evidence of how even modest towns aren’t immune to audacious troublemakers. While the police continue their investigation, one thing is clear: beauty might be skin-deep, but tracking these culprits will require digging much deeper.
So, double-check your dashcams, Alliston residents. Your footage might just help crack the case—or at least give us all more details about why anyone would steal that many face creams before sunrise.
References:
Thieves steal $25K worth of beauty products from pharmacy: OPP
