Needle-filled lemons reportedly found near Port Coquitlam trails

PORT COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) — Coquitlam Mounties are trying to figure why two lemons full of sewing needles were found along local trails.

Police are asking the public to stay alert and contact them if any more of these lemons are found. But make sure not to touch the evidence, and definitely don’t throw anything away.

Reportedly found by locals on two separate occasions, Coquitlam RCMP says the first one was in Gates Park June 22 hanging from a branch, and the second was spotted a few weeks later on July 14 near a trail by the Coquitlam River at Whyte Avenue.

Both were reported by email to either the city or the community police station.

“If you see something that could be a deliberate attempt at harm, you must call police on the phone rather than send an email,” says Cpl. Michael McLaughlin. “Both of these lemons were thrown into the garbage by the people who found them. By the time police received the emails, the evidence was gone and an investigation was virtually impossible.”

Images of the lemons show them hanging from a twine-like thread. The lemons then appear to be split in two with something sandwiched in between the halves, which are then pinned together by the needles.

It’s not exactly clear why the lemons were put there, however, police say it’s possible whoever left the lemons had no intention of hurting anyone. Until officers speak to the person, they can’t say for sure.

McLaughlin says it’s possible there are still some lemons with needles around, or there could be more in the future.

“If you are leaving these lemons full of needles in public, we ask that you stop, and then talk to us to explain what you were doing,” McLaughlin says.

Online searches show cases similar to this have been reported in the U.S., claiming to be linked to voodoo or witchcraft. Other sites claim the practice is used to wish harm or ill will on a specific person.

“Like anybody else, police do go online and start looking into the background of something like this. But without the evidence, and without actually talking to the person who put them there, it’s too early to speculate,” McLaughlin says.

If someone sees anyone leaving lemons with needles in them, call Coquitlam RCMP’s non-emergency number at 604-945-1550, or call 911 if it’s happening right in front of you.

-With files from Hana Mae Nassar