Three honeybee hives stolen in Ohatchee
by Rachael Griffin
rgriffin@annistonstar.com
05:08 PM, Wednesday, April 03
Deputies are searching for a suspect who stole three honeybee hives from a field in Ohatchee last week.
A 53-year-old woman told deputies the hives were stolen between 6 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday, according to a report from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office.
Chief Deputy Matthew Wade said the hives were taken from the 7,000 block of Mudd Street in Ohatchee.
Wade was unsure whether the woman kept bees as a business or hobby. The stolen hives are worth $600, according to the report.
Jack Chapman, treasurer of the Northeast Alabama Beekeeper’s Association, said he doesn’t know the woman, but was sad to hear about the theft. Chapman said the hives most likely weighed between 60 and 70 pounds and could have had more than 35 bees in each hive.
The bee hives would not have had enough honey for someone to collect at this time of year, Chapman said.
According to Chapman, it costs between $70 and $100 to purchase a “package” of bees to start a hive.
Chapman said hive theft is not common in the beekeeping community, but this is not the first instance he’s heard of.
A suspect will likely face charges of second-degree theft of property, a felony, according to the report.
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