Pin found in 2nd Cole Harbour Halloween treat

RCMP are investigating after a second metal pin was found in a candy bar that a child received while trick-or-treating in the Astral Drive area of Cole Harbour, N.S.

Cst. Mark Skinner says parents in the area should be vigilant.

"We just want parents to ensure that if your child has been trick-or-treating in the area, that they are inspecting their children's candy," he said. "Certainly parents should have a good look over their child's candy regardless, but considering we've had two incidents in that area, it's just nice to be extra safe."

RCMP confirmed that a student at Astral Drive Junior High found a sewing pin in her Halloween candy bar when she took a bite late Monday morning.  

The student brought the candy bar, wrapper and pin to the school administration, who then notified an on-site RCMP school liaison officer.

RCMP say the student was trick-or-treating on Astral Drive and Colby South Halloween night.

The student was not injured.

Michelle Mosher lives in the community and as a mother of three, the treat check was an automatic thing to do when the kids came home Halloween night. She says they did a second check after news of the pins.

"Break the candy bars open, any chewy candy that looks like a pin could slide in it," she said. "It's pretty awful you have to do that, but unfortunately that's what we're doing."

This is the second incident involving a candy bar that has been tampered with in the same Cole Harbour neighbourhood.

A third pin was found in a chocolate bar in North Sydney on Monday.

Stories of candy with pins or needles are often heard at Halloween. Cst. Skinner says one case a number of years ago was a hoax, but at this point, that's not the focus of the investigation.

"From our initial investigation we have no reason to doubt the legitimacy of the claims, but certainly as the investigation continues we will look further to ensure the complaint is legitimate," he said.

Mosher knows what she thinks about the people responsible.

"I think they're sick individuals to do that to an innocent child. So I think it's terrible," she said.

Police say they have the packaging and the bars and are examining them to try and figure out who did it.

Police are asking that anyone with information regarding these incidents, to contact any RCMP Detachment, local police or Crime Stoppers anonymously anytime at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).