TORONTO — Police in Niagara Region say they are investigating more than 50 instances of plastic bottles containing “unknown yellow fluid” being thrown onto residents’ properties.
They say the incidents have been reported across the Niagara region from mid-May to early July.
Police say residents are waking up to the bottles on their property, sometimes in their backyards, and generally with no accompanying damage or theft.
They say it’s possible the bottles are part of a vetting technique by criminals to determine if the homeowner is present.
A number of the bottles have been forensically examined by detectives and were found to be not volatile, but police are asking residents to avoid touching the bottles until officers can deal with them.
Niagara police are encouraging homeowners to lock their doors and frequently check their properties if going on vacation and are asking them to consider installing motion lighting and cameras.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 6, 2022.