Un-bee-lievable!
Thursday, 28 February 2013
It is believed that the thieves who pinched Ian Wallace’s prized bees last week may have had some ‘inside information’ on how to handle them
A Randalstown man has been stung by thieves after they stole a hive full of honey bees.
Ian Wallace, who has been keeping bees for 30 years, was left stunned after he made the discovery last Wednesday (February 20).
In the winter time, bees hibernate and at the beginning of last week Ian paid a visit to the hive to check things were as they should be.
Speaking to the Antrim Guardian, he said: "I live at the Magheralane Road and keep bees there but I also have a hive at friend's house at Mountshalgus, near the forest.
“I was looking at it and I just thought something wasn't sitting right. Beehives are made up of the outer hive and the inner box and frames where the bees use the wax to make the honey."
When Ian went to take a closer look, he realised that the inner box was gone along with the full colony of bees and was left 'flabbergasted' at the fact someone had stolen the hive.
“I just couldn't believe it," he continued. "But it must have been someone who knew what they were doing.
“I don't see how any Tom, Dick or Harry off the street would have been able to do that.
“I have been keeping bees for 30 years and I've never come across this before. I've never even heard of it happening to anyone else.
“There were some dead bees lying at the bottom of the baseboard and from what I could tell, they hadn't been lying there too long so it must have happened fairly recently."
Ian confirmed that while he makes the inner frames himself, the bees are worth around £100.
“It's not the money or the value that I have the real issue with," he added.
“It's simply the face that someone would do this in the first place."
A PSNI spokesman confirmed that they had received a report of the theft which is believed to have taken place sometime in the fortnight prior to it being discovered.
If you have any information, contact police on 0845 600 8000. Alternatively, you can give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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