Several men charged with swapping a debit key pad at a gas station during the weekend appeared in court in Oshawa Wednesday, and a large contingent of friends showed up, the Toronto Star reported.

Among them were five men who were videotaped by a security camera in the sting operation, which began when Durham Regional Police were tipped off on Nov. 29, the report said.

The bogus key pad captured and stored customers' debit card numbers and personal passwords.

Officers in the courthouse waited until proceedings were done to make the arrests, Sgt. Paul McCurbin told the newspaper.

"It was lucky for us. It wasn't the brightest move," McCurbin said.