TERREBONNE, QUE. – A man allegedly stole a mechanical shovel on Friday night north of Montreal and triggered what could possibly be one of the slowest police chases in Quebec history.

“Let’s just say that it wasn’t very fast,” said Capt. Sylvain Theoret, a spokesman for the police service of Terrebonne, a city about 30 km north of Montreal.

The mechanical shovel hit a maximum speed of 40 km per hour, police said – 10 km under the speed limit.

They said they spotted the unmarked vehicle and quickly intercepted it after a chase that lasted all of three minutes.

The driver allegedly tried to flee on foot but police said they caught him in a parking lot.

The mechanical shovel was reported stolen about a month ago, police said.

Paquin, who is known to police for previous theft charges, will be charged with theft as well as possession of stolen goods.

Paquin is scheduled to appear in court on Monday for a bail hearing.