Maple operation hacked with ax, syrup lost says Bristol couple

A Bristol couple says someone entered their sugar house, smashed maple sugaring equipment, put holes into eight maple syrup barrels and stole 12 gallons of syrup this week.

Alan Mayer, of Bristol, told police that someone entered the sugar house at 4393 Vermont 116 sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday evening, according to a police news release.

In a telephone interview, Cindy Mayer said she and her husband had been preparing their products for an upcoming craft fair, where they do business as Mayer Maple Producers. 

On Tuesday, they discovered holes in the bottling tanks, evaporator and pans, which Cindy Mayer said appeared to have been made with an ax. 

“They just went through and trashed it, basically," Cindy Mayer said. She had no estimate of the damage.

Cindy Mayer said eight maple syrup barrels were punctured, causing at least 300 gallons of maple syrup to leak out.

"That’s nearly an entire season's worth — an entire crop — it's on the floor over there," she said.

The intruder or intruders took 12 gallons of syrup, valued at about $40 per gallon, and left a Marlboro wrapper behind, Cindy Mayer said. She was in shock and could only offer that the acts may have been done by a "disturbed individual."

Vermont State Police Cpl. Michelle LeBlanc has asked anyone who saw or heard people in the area to call 388-4919.

Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum. 
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