Halton police reveal why movie theatres in Oakville and Burlington are being targeted for 'screen slashings'

Halton police are investigating a series of recent "screen slashing" incidents in Oakville, Burlington and Waterloo and have yet to make any arrests.

On February 23, 2022, shortly after 5 p.m., two suspects entered a theatre on Brant Street in Burlington and significantly damaged three theatre screens with a sharp object.

A short time later the same suspects attended Film.Ca Cinemas on Speers Road in Oakville and damaged two screens in a similar fashion. This incident was caught on video:

Finally, after 7 p.m., on the same date the same two suspects attended a theatre located on King Street North in Waterloo and damaged a single screen.

In accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act, police are not able to provide a description of the suspects.

Investigators believe the theatres were targeted because of a film they are all playing titled Bheemla Nayak," a 2022 Indian Telugu-language action drama film that has opened to some controversy.

Investigators are also investigating historical events with similar circumstances in 2020 and 2021 that occurred in Oakville and throughout the GTA.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2216.