UPDATE: ‘Toy gun’ incident involving youth prompts Cobourg police reminder
By editor/reporter Sarah Hyatt
Cobourg police are urging parents and guardians to speak with kids about the risks of carrying toy or replica guns in public places after someone reported seeing a youth carrying what initially appeared to be a handgun in a residential neighbourhood last Saturday.
It turned out that the call involved a toy gun, police confirmed in an update issued on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.
Just the day prior, the Cobourg Police Service had issued a call for the public’s help following the report, which was made on Saturday, Sept. 20 just after 4 p.m. Police said at that time they had received a report about a male youth seen walking westbound on Parkview Hills Drive “carrying what appeared to be a camouflage-coloured handgun.”
In their Tuesday release, police said the call prompted an extensive search of the area and then canvassing, but no one was found. This prompted investigators to put out the call for the public’s help and surveillance footage from the area.
Police earlier warned that it had not been determined whether the item was a real firearm, a replica or another object, and noted there were no additional related calls received about the report.
In their latest update, the service said police had concluded their investigation into the report and “confirmed the item was a toy gun.”
Police are thanking the community for its help and providing information that helped bring the investigation to “a prompt conclusion.”
However, the incident has also led police to issue a reminder to the public that realistic-looking toy and replica firearms can be difficult to distinguish from real firearms.
“Reports involving possible firearms are taken seriously and responded to accordingly to ensure public safety,” explained the service. “Parents and guardians are encouraged to speak with their children about the risks of carrying toy or replica guns in public places.
“Objects that could be mistaken for a real firearm can cause significant public concern and result
in an immediate police response.”
No other details were released by police.
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