Police search for thieves who allegedly stole $150,000 worth of beehives from rural NSW property

Police are searching for thieves who allegedly stole $150,000 worth of beehives from a rural property in the New South Wales northern tablelands, with a local apiarist saying they may well have been taken by a fellow beekeeper. Eighty beehive boxes containing active colonies were taken from a property on Bruxner Way, 15km west of Bonshaw and 100km north-west of Glen Innes. NSW police believe the alleged theft occurred sometime between Tuesday 31 March and Wednesday 6 May. The NSW police rural crime prevention team has begun investigating. The missing boxes are described as predominantly cream-coloured with blue base boards, blue and white lids and red clear boards. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Police are urging anyone with information, or who was in the area with dashcam or mobile phone footage, to contact rural crime investigators at Inverell or Glen Innes police stations, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Mitch McLennan, at The Honey Shed in nearby Tabulam, said the alleged theft would be a “devastating” loss for the owner. “It’s terrible, it’s such a big loss,” the beekeeper said, noting he had a hunch on the thieves’ demographic: “The only people that steal bees are beekeepers.” “It’s definitely a beekeeper,” McLennan said. …