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Canadians have earned a reputation for being polite to the point where some people have been led to believe the word “Sorry” flows like the waters of Niagara Falls in daily life. That might not actually be the case, but it’s easy to understand where that perception comes from when you consider police in Ontario couldn’t help but compliment a bus thief who went on a very unique joy ride.
Most countries are associated with at least a few stereotypes, and Canada is certainly no exception.
If you asked A.I. to spit out an image of the average Canadian, there’s a good chance it would produce a picture of someone clad in an all-denim outfit (or a flannel shirt) with a cup of Tim Horton’s coffee in one hand and a bottle of maple syrup in the other while watching a hockey game.
People who hail from the Great White North are also known for a personality that most Americans associate with the Midwest: an air of politeness (which may or may not feature a tinge of passive aggressiveness) that is A Thing to the point where a university in British Columbia highlights it in a guide for international students.
Any American who’s spent time in Quebec knows there are certainly exceptions to that rule (I’m joking, but also not really), but there are plenty of anecdotes that support that perception—including one that comes to us courtesy of a crime that recently unfolded in Ontario.
Police in Hamilton, Ontario gave props to a man who stole a bus but didn’t leave a single scratch while dropping off and picking up passengers
On Tuesday, police in Hamilton (the third-largest city in Ontario) were dispatched to a call concerning a man who had stolen a bus from the MacNab terminal in downtown, which is certainly the kind of situation that could get very out of hand.
According to the CBC, that thankfully did not end up being the case, as the unidentified 36-year-old was apprehended “without incident” approximately 15 minutes after authorities were alerted to what had unfolded. However, some interesting details emerged after he was taken into custody.
Hamilton Police Service spokesperson Trevor McKenna said officers spoke with passengers who told them the driver initially followed the correct route while dropping off and picking up people at multiple stops. He went as far as to refuse to let someone with an expired pass get on board, but riders eventually realized something was amiss when he wandered off the scheduled path.
McKenna also noted the accordion-style bus didn’t sustain any damage, saying:
“There was not a ding on the bus. He did a great job. It’s comical but at the same time it’s serious. We’re thankful nobody was hurt.”
The driver—who does not have a fixed address and appears to grapple with mental health issues—was hit with multiple charges, including theft, police obstruction, and driving without a license.