Is ‘The Sticky’ based on a true story? Inside the heist that stole $18 million of maple syrup
Today - Dec 18th, 2024
In July 2012, an inspection by Michel Gavreau at a Quebec maple syrup warehouse uncovered empty and water-filled barrels, revealing the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. This heist involved a group of thieves who stole syrup from over 9,500 barrels, valued at more than $18 million CAD. The stolen syrup was trafficked to buyers unaware of its origin, with ringleader Richard Vallieres making a significant profit. The heist led to numerous arrests and convictions, including Vallieres, who was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison and fined over $9 million CAD. The heist's story has inspired a Prime Video series called 'The Sticky,' highlighting the unusual nature of the crime. Canada, a major syrup producer, maintains a strategic reserve to stabilize prices, making syrup a valuable target for theft.
RATING
The article provides a detailed account of the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, offering a mix of factual information and commentary on the fictional representation of the event in a TV series. While it presents a clear narrative, there are notable gaps in source attribution and potential bias in the storytelling.
RATING DETAILS
The article seems largely accurate in its recounting of the events of the heist and its aftermath. However, there are several instances where specific sources are not named, leading to questions about the verifiability of certain claims, such as pricing data and legal outcomes.
The article does not explicitly exhibit bias but lacks a range of perspectives, especially from those involved in the heist, law enforcement, or legal experts. It mainly presents the narrative from the perspective of the reporting sources without contrasting viewpoints.
The article is well-structured and coherent, providing a logical flow of information. However, it occasionally jumps between the real story and the fictional series, which could cause some confusion. The language is mostly neutral, avoiding overly emotive terms.
While some sources are named (e.g., Bloomberg, NBC News, CBC), many references are vague, with placeholders such as 'according to' without specifying who or what is being cited. This weakens the reliability of the information presented.
The article does not disclose conflicts of interest or affiliations that might affect impartiality. It also does not clarify the lack of attribution for some data points, making it less transparent in its reporting.