A Quebec man, Jean-Pascal Mercier, has been sentenced to 29 months in prison for orchestrating elaborate roof thefts amounting to nearly $200,000 from a cannabis store and an industrial tool retailer. Mercier and an accomplice meticulously planned their break-ins, using ropes to access the roofs and disabling security systems. Following their capture, evidence linked them to the crimes, revealing previous thefts and drug-related charges. This is not Mercier’s first offense, as he has a history of break-ins.
Quebec Man Sentenced for Elaborate Roof-Theft Scheme
A Quebec man has been handed a two-year detention sentence after orchestrating a series of intricate thefts totaling nearly $200,000 from a SQDC outlet and a specialized tool retailer. His method involved breaking into the premises via the roof, using ropes akin to a scene from *Mission Impossible*.
Well-Planned Heists
Jean-Pascal Mercier executed his thefts with meticulous planning, as highlighted by the prosecutor, Me Louis Durand-Bluteau, who referred to him as the “mastermind” behind these operations. Over the course of February 11 and 12, 2023, Mercier and an accomplice managed to steal more than $115,000 in goods from the SQDC in Beauport and an additional $80,000 worth of tools from Groupe JSV, an industrial hardware store located on Saint-Sacrement Avenue.
At the end of February, Mercier was sentenced to a total of 29 months in prison, which includes 24 months for offenses such as breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods, mischief, and possession of drugs with the intent to traffic. He also received five months for harassment and other related charges.
The investigation revealed that Mercier and his accomplice undertook thorough reconnaissance of the targeted locations. They even cleared snow from the roofs to facilitate their entry. On February 11, Mercier accessed Groupe JSV through the roof in the late afternoon and filled multiple bags with tools. His accomplice then hoisted the stolen goods using ropes and a hook.
Later that evening, they infiltrated the SQDC, where they disabled the surveillance system before making their escape. When police arrived, they found no immediate evidence of a break-in, as the thieves had entered through the roof.
The following morning, equipped with a rented cube truck, Mercier and his accomplice returned to the SQDC to steal significant quantities of cannabis products, causing nearly $20,000 in damage to the property.
During their return to the site of their first theft, they attempted a different exit strategy. Instead of using the roof again, they opted to cut the locks on the delivery door to park their cube truck. This time, an alarm was triggered, prompting an employee to notify the police.
Authorities traced the duo’s movements through surveillance footage, which revealed that Mercier’s truck had been spotted at the theft locations in the days leading up to the burglaries. His accomplice had also made purchases at those stores. During subsequent surveillance, Mercier was observed with various toolboxes and new Milwaukee tools, a brand distributed by Groupe JSV. A search of his residence uncovered cannabis products from the SQDC and additional stolen tools.
Mercier’s defense attorney, Me Anne-Marie Claveau, noted that he had participated in closed therapy for drug issues in the months leading up to the sentencing. Factors from a Gladue report, which considers the backgrounds of First Nations offenders, were also factored into the 29-month sentence. This is not Mercier’s first encounter with the law; he had previously been sentenced to five months in detention for 16 break-ins back in 2014.