Inside the sweet world of syrup, a picture of crime emerges . . .
Bears, Juveniles and Wasps. . . Oh my!
Poaching – Washington, October 8, 2019: The Department of Justice has indicted two men in connection with a maple-theft-gone-awry. The pair allegedly felled several big leaf maple trees in Olympia National Park with the intention to sell the lumber. But, when felled, the men found a wasp’s nest in the branches of one of the trees. The fire they set to destroy the nest quickly spiraled out of control, consumed the maples, and went on to rage for three months. The fire costed an estimated $4.5 million to contain. A report from the Seattle Times estimates that hundreds of maples are poached from area parks every year.
Bear Burglary – Vermont, July 22, 2019: Vermont Fish and Wildlife apprehended a bear, age unknown, suspected of breaking and entering. The bear allegedly entered a home through the kitchen window and ravaged the pantry, leaving behind a mess. Photographs of the scene indicate that the bear drank all the maple syrup before fleeing.
Juvenile Mayhem – New Hampshire, November 23, 2018: Rindge Police Chief called for an end to a longstanding Halloween tradition after a suspect was caught on camera dousing a police cruiser in maple syrup. On the same night, community members reported widespread mayhem as teenagers wreaked havoc strewing the town with toilet paper, garbage and food, and burning furniture in the streets on a Saturday night. According to police, the perpetrators will be referred to a diversion program this time, but will not escape justice again.
Vandalisms and Thefts.
Theft – Wisconsin, August 20, 2025: Authorities are looking for a 37-year-old Bronx, New York, woman suspected to have been involved in scamming a Marathon County business out of $108,000 worth of maple syrup. The suspect impersonated major restaurant chain employees over the phone to fraudulently order and acquire large shipments of bulk syrup, routing payments through a shell business called Camenha Corp.
Vandalism – United Kingdom, May 4, 2019: William Harker, 39, was sentenced to two years in prison after ransacking his neighbors’ home and pouring maple syrup all over their possessions. The judge found that Harker committed the sticky crime in retaliation for a series of noise complaints the neighbors made in response to his wild parties. The press has dubbed Harker “the neighbor from hell.”
Theft – Alberta, November 29, 2018: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police apprehended two women and one man in a fleeing vehicle in possession of $20,000 worth of stolen maple syrup. Among other things, Shelby Kalman, 20, Sean Mclaughlin, 28, and Char-lee Fernell, 23, have been charged with possession of stolen goods and possession of controlled substances.
Vandalism – Missouri, November 23, 2018: The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported that three cars belonging to one man have been vandalized by maple syrup. The crime was discovered when one of the man’s cars died while he was driving on the highway. He opened the hood to discover that maple syrup had been poured in the gas tank. Upon returning home, he discovered similar damage in two of his other vehicles. The unknown vandal remains at large.
Vandalism and Theft – Vermont, November 24, 2017: Vermont State Police are investigating after someone used an axe to cut holes in 8 barrels of maple syrup, causing 300 gallons to leak on the floor of the sugarhouse where it was being stored. According to Cindy Mayer of Mayer Maple products, an additional 12 gallons of bottled maple syrup are also missing.
Assault, Fraud and a Traffic Violation.
Fraud – Quebec, April 22, 2026: An investigative report by Radio-Canada’s Enquête revealed that producer Steve Bourdeau of Saint-Chrysostome was diluting canned syrup sold in grocery chains with roughly 50% cheap cane sugar while labeling it as pure. Following product recalls, consumers discovered remaining cans on shelves featuring new deceptive labels stuck over Bourdeau’s company name. In April 2026, the Quebec Federation of Maple Syrup Producers filed emergency court documents asking regulators to seize Bourdeau’s remaining stock, suspend his quotas, and collect fines after inspectors caught workers transferring returned product into larger containers. A class-action lawsuit on behalf of consumers was also launched.
Fraud – Vermont, January 12, 2024: Richard Blackmer, 42, was sentenced to 5-10 years in prison for dozens of counts of defrauding people in transactions involving hay, maple-syrup, farm equipment and model cars. Blackmer was arrested in 2020 after a month-long investigation by authorities in Vermont, Massachusetts and New York.
Traffic Violations – Louisiana, July 23, 2019: New Orleans Police Officers closed a street after a tanker truck carrying 1,000 gallons of syrup started leaking. The driver was cited with improper loading and violation of size and weight limits. While the type of syrup is still unconfirmed, the question remains: why would anyone want that much molasses?
Assault – Prince Edward Island, December 18, 2018: Henry Joseph Doucette, 60, was sentenced to 30 days in prison and fined $200 on two assault convictions. Doucette assaulted his two siblings during an argument over who owned the trees Doucette was tapping for maple syrup.
The Great Canadian Syrup Heist!
The Great Canadian Maple Heist – Quebec, 2011-2012: Over the course of several months, thieves stole 9,571 barrels of maple syrup, valued at $18.7 million CND in what was eventually discovered to be an “inside job.” Seventeen men were arrested in connection to the theft, several of whom were convicted and sentenced to jail time and hefty fines. For more information on this most infamous of maple crimes, here are takes by Vanity Fair, The Culture Trip, and History 101.