Golden Syrup
Cases unlock in order, like levels. This is case 110 of 200.
Maple syrup reserve warehouse, rural Quebec, Thursday, 10 am. During the annual inspection, the inspector climbed a stack of barrels and one of them wobbled under her foot: it was full of water.
The reserve holds sixteen thousand barrels from the region's producers, about fifteen million dollars' worth of syrup. So far, three hundred barrels have been opened. Nearly all of them hold tap water instead of syrup.
The warehouse has no camera and no alarm. The federation's seals looked intact. Someone emptied the reserve a little at a time, over months, without anyone noticing.
Three people know this warehouse from the inside. One of them carried the syrup away, barrel by barrel.
A cold, high-ceilinged warehouse, white barrels stacked to the rafters and a table with a clipboard.
Suspects
Gisèle PaquetProducers' federation inspector, 52
Yves LamontagneOwner of the warehouse leased to the federation, 61
Richard DallaireAccredited reserve hauler, 47
The real case
The great Quebec maple syrup heist
Quebec, Canada, 2011 and 2012
Read the real case