Without putting the necessary security in place, the criminals are outside licking their lips.
This year marks the 10th anniversary since the infamous Great Maple Syrup Heist. In the province of Quebec in Canada,3,000 tons of maple syrup were stolen from the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup. At $2,000 per barrel (the equivalent of around 13 times the price of crude oil), it was a significant theft – it raised eyebrows and earned media attention around the world. The total stolen volume was estimated at an incredible $18.7 million, and much of it was never recovered. The criminals of 2012 were ultimately tracked down, though it took considerable effort for the police to determine the full scale of the crime.26 arrests were made and the police interviewed more than 200 witnesses, creating a bizarre story surrounding one of Quebec’s major resources—and its sweetest. In the end, in court, one of the thieves, Richard Vallières, was found guilty of theft, fraud, and trafficking stolen goods. It’s an interesting story but the message points to something more fundamental – understanding your business or organization, where its value lies, and making sure it is protected. The truth is that all organizations are vulnerable to potential criminal activity. And like maple syrup, there is a need to give customers what they want, but understand attacks can come from all sides. The key is protecting what is most valuable. Most businesses aren’t looking after syrup, that much is true.
