First maple syrup, now fir resin subject of lucrative heist

It turns out maple isn't the only sap worth stealing.

Fir-resin producerGrald Charbonneau learned that the hard way when he opened his garage recently to find about 1,000 pounds of his product had been stolen.

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CharbonneaurunsGommedesapinduQubecinStoneham, about 30 kilometres north of Quebec City.

He noticed the theftof the year's harvest worth about $35,000 when he returned home from the Thanksgiving holiday.

"I opened the door and then closed it again to make sure I saw it right,"Charbonneausaid.

"I didn't believe it."

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Harvested by hand

Charbonneau said the resin is harvested with specially madeartisanal tools.

The resin is collected drop-by-drop frombalsam fir trees.

"Pure gold of Quebec,"Charbonneaucalled it.

The money from the sale of his product was supposed to finance the opening of a forest museum inthe Eastern Townships in the next few weeks.

Fir resin can be used in glue sealant, cold medicine, wood varnish and in traditional medicines as an antiseptic.

Quebec's provincial police have opened an investigation into the theft.

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