Bee thieves

[neillsayers]

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/05/bee-thieves-cost-beekeepers-thousands/

[Wandering Man]

Thanks for posting this, Neill.

“That’s like branding over cattle—you can’t do that. Used to be a hanging offense!

[Bakersdozen]

This article breaks my heart.  Beekeepers stealing from beekeepers.   
The young man started with 1500 colonies, some died which left him with 830.  160 were stolen.  GPS tracking devices cost $130 each.  A beekeeper wouldn't have to have a GPS device in every hive.  Scattered through out the truck might be enough to work.  Protection in the almond groves would be a different story.  Perhaps beekeepers supply colonies for the almond bloom should take less money and ask for security.

[neillsayers]

In general, I tend to think of theives as looking for an easy buck. I understand that there is serious money here, but this sounds like hard work. If these theives worked that hard at an honest endeavor, they would be successful and not have to look over their shoulders. Sooner or later karma comes a-calling! 

[tecumseh]

and there was a time when you could hardy give a hive away... now you are better to keep them behind a locked gate.

Of course even way back when equipment was stolen but it was almost always a beekeeper's employee...

Seem to be the new age idea that bees are domesticated...  fuzzy thinking?

[Bakersdozen]

The article suggested that the thieves might have been beekeepers that suffered big losses themselves.  Desperate to meet their contractual obligations, they resorted to stealing from fellow beekeepers.   There has to be a cost effective answer.