Article content

TORONTO — York Regional Police are in a sticky situation and need the public’s help to identify a man who stole more than $1,500 worth of chewing gum from a Markham, Ont., pharmacy.

The man was captured by video surveillance entering a pharmacy on Dec. 17 with a garbage bag, filling it up with gum and casually walking out the front door. Police said he returned a few moments later with another garbage bag and stole the pharmacy’s remaining stock.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or 'Fresh-breath bandit' makes off with more than $1,500 worth of chewing gum from Markham pharmacy Back to video

York Regional Police Const. Andy Pattenden said not one employee or customer saw the man leave the pharmacy — despite surveillance showing he made no attempt to hide the bags.

“They didn’t actually notice until later when an employee went over to the area and saw everything missing from the racks,” Pattenden said.

Police said the man loaded the two garbage bags — with his $1,528 worth of loot — into a waiting taxi and was driven away. Investigators tried to identify the taxi and its driver without success, Pattenden said.