The Durham Regional Police Service is asking for the public’s help to identify at least six males involved in an attack and theft that occurred in Oshawa on April 25, 2026. The incident, which took place at approximately 8:40 p.m., left a group of four basketball players fleeing for safety after being sprayed with a substance described as similar to bear spray.
According to police, the encounter occurred in the area of Cedar Street and Thomas Street. After spraying the victims, the suspects stole one of the victim’s bicycles and were last seen running north toward Cedar Street and Wentworth Street West. The suspects are described as males between 16 and 20 years old, all wearing dark clothing and ski masks.
Information regarding the suspects has been posted to the Help Solve a Crime page, a public portal used by the service to gather community assistance for active investigations. Anyone with cellphone, dash cam, or surveillance footage, or any other information, is encouraged to contact D/Cst. Cole of the Central East Criminal Investigations Branch at 1-888-579-1520, extension 1705.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, where tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.
This incident follows a series of reports involving the misuse of bear spray in the region. Recent records indicate that bear spray incidents in Ontario have increased by 115 per cent over the past five years, with youth aged 10 to 19 accounting for approximately 63 per cent of identified offenders. Locally, a 17-year-old was arrested on February 26, 2026, after a similar incident at a school in Oshawa, which resulted in an evacuation of students and staff.
