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Thanksgiving pumpkin thieves accused of stealing from GTA farm shamed on social media

The owners of Reesor Farm Market in Stouffville, Ont. was closed on holiday Monday but that didn't stop more than a hundred people from raiding the farm without paying. Getty Images/File

TORONTO – It didn’t take long for alleged pumpkin thieves accused of stealing from a Greater Toronto Area farm on Thanksgiving Day to be outed on the internet.

Reesor Farm Market in Markham, Ont. was closed on holiday Monday but that didn’t stop more than a hundred people, including families with young children, from raiding the farm without paying.

The public was made aware of the incidents after a number of concerned citizens discovered some of the perpetrators posting selfies on social media.

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Many people expressed shock and disgust over the thefts and the message it sends to children.

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“They posted the looting on Instagram. Sad to see families teaching their kids immoral values,” wrote Gilda Aloia on Reesor’s Facebook page.

“I hope that the people involved will apologize, make amends and will apologize to their children for teaching them the wrong way to live,” said Sheri Eby on Reesor’s comment section.

The farm’s owner, Jay Reesor, issued a statement on Facebook thanking the public for their support and those who helped call police to clear the field of the thieves.

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“We were shocked and saddened to learn that people were taking our pumpkins,” said Reesor. “Thank you to those who called the police to help clear the field in my absence. Maybe some good can come from this yet.”

Reesor Farm charges $35 for a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins, 3 for $25, or individually weighed for 35 cents per pound.

York Regional Police said an investigation into the thefts is ongoing and individuals involved could face charges of theft under $5,000 and trespassing.

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