A prank involving a smoke flare set off in a Cape Breton Walmart last week has resulted in millions of dollars’ worth of damage.
Almost everything in the store was ruined by orange smoke from a flare set off inside, truckloads of damaged goods were hauled away on Friday.
"It’s terrible, really crazy,” said one shopper. “I don't know who would do something like that, but it's awful."
Shoppers were sent scurrying to the exits when orange smoke from a marine flare filled the air inside the Walmart on Nov. 6.
The store has been closed despite a police hazmat team deeming the smoke non-toxic. Walmart Canada says the smoke created a sticky residue that can’t be washed off, leaving most of the inventory unsalvageable.
A similar incident took place at a nearby high school two days after the incident.
Police say a flare canister was found inside the school and the damage was minimal with students returning to class the day after.
Officers believe the flares were stolen from an abandoned commercial building, but say there is no update on their investigation.
Walmart shopper, Bill Keigan says he hopes police will find who’s responsible.
“Hopefully they’ll get caught and they’ll be held accountable for it,” Keigan says. “I mean, nobody should get away with anything that serious.”
Keigan says he hopes the store will reopen soon because he’s had to travel to pick up his prescriptions.
“Last couple of days, me and my wife was in Sydney River Walmart. We had to go over there for prescriptions from the pharmacy, wasting time over there."
Walmart says normally, product that can no longer be sold is given to charity, but in this case the damage is so bad that most goods will be thrown out.
Walmart Canada says it hopes to reopen this store in one week, just in time for Black Friday sales.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ryan MacDonald.
