Canada

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Victoria Police Const. Mike Russell announces at a news conference in Victoria on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, that remains found in three shoes at Clover Point on Thursday, two of which appeared to be children's, was a hoax. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Howe

Victoria Police say they are launching a full-scale investigation to track down the "sick" pranksters who left three child-sized shoes filled with meat-like materials on a popular city beach area.

Const. Mike Russell confirmed Friday the shoes found at Clover Point contained non-human remains and were left on the beach as an act of public mischief.

He said the discovery sent chills throughout the Victoria area and the tourist who found the first shoe while strolling on the beach Thursday evening was shaken.

A police dog searching the beach found the two other shoes after the initial discovery, Russell said.

"Imagine what the community feels like when they are thinking that some kids' shoes are washing up with possible human remains in them," said Russell. "It's pretty sick."

Russell called on the pranksters to turn themselves in before police find them.

He said the police department is committed to doing whatever it takes to arrest the people responsible for the hoax.

"We need to send a message right now that this is unacceptable in our community," he said. "I don't care what it takes, we need to find these people and we need to bring them to justice and tell people that our community is safe, and if you are going to be out there doing this, we're going to come for you."

Over the past five years, at least nine runners have been found with human remains inside along the shores of British Columbia, while there have also been at least two other hoaxes.