Toronto soldiers arrested on kidnapping, weapons theft and organized crime charges

[Haggis]

Looked at the photos. Why would you steal blanks?

Consider the psychological effect of a burst or few of blank rounds on civilians in low/bad light as an intimidation tactic or as a break contact drill against civilian LE. Aside from any possible cardiac events, you're not going to hurt anyone and still get your point across. In the heat of the moment, most coppers are not going to want to face off aagaint "machine gun fire", real or not.

 

[MilEME09]

Consider the psychological effect of a burst or few of blank rounds on civilians in low/bad light as an intimidation tactic or as a break contact drill against civilian LE. Aside from any possible cardiac events, you're not going to hurt anyone and still get your point across. In the heat of the moment, most coppers are not going to want to face off aagaint "machine gun fire", real or not.

Explains all the events of police called out for gunfire and no rounds found. Blanks leave no trace if they eject into the vehicle

 

[brihard]

Explains all the events of police called out for gunfire and no rounds found. Blanks leave no trace if they eject into the vehicle

I’m not saying it’s never happened, but I’ve never once in real life heard of blanks being used in crime in this manner. Firing blanks at police is going to get jacketed hollowpoint fired back.

 

[MilEME09]

I’m not saying it’s never happened, but I’ve never once in real life heard of blanks being used in crime in this manner. Firing blanks at police is going to get jacketed hollowpoint fired back.

Id suspect its more for targeted intimidation in extortion

 

[Ludoc]

I think you are giving them way too much credit. I doubt they had a plan to steal blanks so they could use them as part of some intimidation scheme. I think they took them because the opportunity presented itself, not because they needed or even wanted them.

 

[brihard]

I think you are giving them way too much credit. I doubt they had a plan to steal blanks so they could use them as part of some intimidation scheme. I think they took them because the opportunity presented itself, not because they needed or even wanted them.

Agreed. Troops are dumb.