A member of Portsmouth BKA has had two national hives stolen very recently.
Letter sent to local Chairman:
"The bees that we had on the far side of the Estate died out over winter, but I left a couple of bait hives on the site in case there were wild bees about. I went up today to find the hives were missing. As I recall, I had a set of legs (the other hive was on a milk crate which was still there), 2 mesh floors, 2 brood boxes (national), 2 or 3 supers and 2 queen excluders, crown boards and roofs. I don’t suppose that they have been picked up as abandoned by anyone in the society? Otherwise, I suppose that they have been pinched, which seems something of an occupational hazard these days, and all I can hope is that they end up in the hands of beekeepers rather than as firewood. I doubt that there is anything to be done apart from warning other members to mark their kit". Members are asked to be vigilant and suspicious of hives/colonies offered for sale.