Hives stolen, Dagenham area

[psafloyd]

Just heard from the Romford division's secretary that at least five hives and colonies were taken overnight from a divisional apiary site.

I'll be watching out for any local nucs on offer, that's for sure. I'm sure anyone in the area will do the same.

This is the second time this apiary has been hit in the past 12 months.

 

[thurrock bees]

Not again, Pat will be having kittens.

 

[psafloyd]

Not again, Pat will be having kittens.

She's on the warpath, TB.

 

[busybee53]

It's the first time for this particular apiary, although other apiaries used by Romford division have been hit before.

They got one of mine. I was the one who turned up this morning to find no padlock on the gate and the various hives gone. I have shifted my other hive in case they come back tonight. I am not happy. They waited until we'd done the OA and mine even went complete with stand, eke and fondant.

Now I'm back to one hive, one queen, no back up. Grrrrr.

 

[tonybloke]

if they only took one from each of the owners, it sounds like an 'inside job'

 

[busybee53]

I'm not sure they only took one from each owner for definite, but I lost one of my two, my friend lost one of her two, one of the warden's went - not sure how many he had, so I am just guessing.

 

[testka]

It's the first time for this particular apiary, although other apiaries used by Romford division have been hit before.

They got one of mine. I was the one who turned up this morning to find no padlock on the gate and the various hives gone. I have shifted my other hive in case they come back tonight. I am not happy. They waited until we'd done the OA and mine even went complete with stand, eke and fondant.

Now I'm back to one hive, one queen, no back up. Grrrrr.

They got one which was set aside for me last year. I feel real bad for all those that put such hard work into the division. Thefts seem to be real rife at the moment and only seem to be getting worse. Time to get some sort of CCTV system set up at the apiary maybe?

 

[busybee53]

As far as I'm aware there was CCTV set up at one of the other apiaries but all they got were pictures of people in bee suits. Not much help.

 

[thurrock bees]

She's on the warpath, TB.

bet she is, with smoke from her nose and her ears. i were chatting to her after the last thieft and she was spitting feathers then.I will be contacting my landowners to a eye out .

 

[alanf]

As far as I'm aware there was CCTV set up at one of the other apiaries but all they got were pictures of people in bee suits. Not much help.

It helps indirectly, that they wear beesuits is worrying. Most theft of any kind is opportunist, as the local constabulary will confirm if your allotment is raided. This lot are arriving equipped to steal a van load (?) of hives. If you have CCTV, try to place it see the vehicle registrations. They either have buyers who know they are stolen to deliver to or their own secluded apiary where they can remove any traceable marks. Either way, this is their business.

If the pattern of hives taken was, say, those nearest the gate or only the newest, then they will be back soon, same place or nearby. If they have deliberately taken one of each owners pairs, that could be worse. Maybe they expect shiny replacements they can 'harvest' next year.

Good luck with tracing the culprits.

 

[Erichalfbee]

They got one of mine. I was the one who turned up this morning to find no padlock on the gate and the various hives gone. I have shifted my other hive in case they come back tonight. I am not happy. They waited until we'd done the OA and mine even went complete with stand, eke and fondant.

Now I'm back to one hive, one queen, no back up. Grrrrr.

This sort of thing is so eroding of belief in people's good nature. What on earth is happening? It's appalling to realise that these scum are fellow beekeepers.
I look at my three boxes and consider the huge input of my TLC and I rage at the thought some ***** could just come along and take them.
So sorry busybee

 

[countryman]

how many of these hives have been next to roads ? could it be these s*** are being oppotunist after driving by if not remember who has been there etc it could come down to some careless talk at bee clubs but the best way is to hide them away from roads do not tell anyone where they are and be a bit secretive and above all brand the top bars with your post code so hard to get rid of frames

 

[BeeJayBee]

I know a metal roof is a small amount, costwise, when compared to a hive plus bees, but metal thieves will take almost anything these days.

 

[psafloyd]

how many of these hives have been next to roads ? could it be these s*** are being oppotunist after driving by if not remember who has been there etc it could come down to some careless talk at bee clubs but the best way is to hide them away from roads do not tell anyone where they are and be a bit secretive and above all brand the top bars with your post code so hard to get rid of frames

These are not near roads and unless you know they are there, you could easily miss the whole enclosure as it is part of a country park.

 

[countryman]

then you have to look at yourselfs because if it is that out of the way then knowone knows apart from clubmembers and visitors so the s***s are amongst you good luck in finding them then name and shame on this forum in capital letters

 

[busybee53]

Countryman thanks for saying postcode the frames. I had done the outside parts of the hive but you are dead right about the frames. I thought they could probably sandpaper off the writing on the hive parts but it will be harder to remove from the frames.

 

[countryman]

if you get some of those large metal letter stamps clamp together heat and burn your post code on the end of the frames dosnt mater whether they sand they wont get rid of it i know someone is going say thats stupid but if you use one of those blankets with the split in so you just expose the frame job done theives will think twice because it will take them at least 6-12 months to get rid of the frames

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

I've just branded all hive parts and frames with my postcode.

But am I missing something or am I just thick?

A bunch of scr*tes might see the hive is branded and leave well alone. Fine.

But if they decide to nick it anyway, to get at the bees frames and honey, are they likely to check inside before they do it? Won't they just strap up the whole lot and beggar off as fast as possible?

In which case, I won't have prevented the theft - just made life difficult for them afterwards. Which is fine - but wasn't a deterrent.

Dusty.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Theeasiest way to shift these on would be to sell on as nucs in the spring so they'd be looking at bought in queens I should think. marking the frames is the best bet and anyone buying nucs try and check the provenance.

 

[Hivemaker.]

If stolen in the spring or early summer,then i suspect they will simply shake the bees out into fresh box's,and burn the rest.