Agricultural crime: Bee hives stolen in rural northern California

The Press-Democrat (Sonoma County, California) reported this week from Hopland, population 756. under the headline "Theft of almost 400 bee colonies near Hopland part of an industry trend."  Here's the lede: 

Millions of honeybees mysteriously vanished around the end of January from a Hopland property in Mendocino County. There was little indication, though, that the colonies just flew away and took their hives with them.

Sometime between colony inspections on Jan. 19 and Feb. 1, it became clear that Sonoma County-based Tauzer Apiaries, which owns the bees, had fallen victim to a thief or thieves who made off with 384 colonies.

By several accounts, the theft reflects a consistent burden members of the apiary industry face, especially during this time of year when bees are pollinating and in high demand by growers.

Around 600 hives were stolen across California last year and more than 800 have been taken so far this year, said Butte County Sheriff’s Deputy Rowdy Freeman who is not only a law enforcement liaison to the California State Beekeepers Association and president of the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force, but also and a fellow beekeeper.

The colonies were found within just a few days in neighboring Yolo County.  Tauzer Apiaries also had a forklift stolen at about the same time, and it was apparently used in the bee colony theft.