Police are probing whether a trail of honey trays found in Richmond leads to the thief behind a massive bee heist in Abbotsford.
A resident who cycles rural Richmond every day noticed the dozen or so trays discarded last week by the roadside on No. 7 Road, just north of Westminster Highway.
The cyclist, Doug Woods, has since been in touch with Richmond RCMP, who are now looking into the possibility the discovery may be linked to the Abbotsford theft.
An Abbotsford beekeeper said hes out nearly $100,000 after someone stole 48 hives packed full of honey last month.
The hives contained as many as 500,000 honey bees and honey waiting to be removed and processed this month, which the areas prime honey-producing month.
When I cycled past the trays, it was pretty obvious what they were used for, Woods told the News.
The first day there were lots of bees buzzing around it. They were gone the next day.
But it wasnt until I read the story on Monday about the theft in Abbotsford that I made the connection. Thats when I decided to get in touch with the police.
Woods was due to lead the Mounties to the discarded honey trays on Thursday. Police they will then look into making a connection with the Abbotsford bee theft.
He said hed also reported the find to Abbotsford police, but had heard nothing back.
Abbotsford police Const. Ian MacDonald told the Vancouver Sun that the bee-keeper noticed the theft on July 26 after he went to an apiary yard he keeps at a farm in the 27600-block of 0 Avenue.
He discovered all of the hives, which had a total of 96 honey boxes with an estimated 8,000 pounds of honey, were gone.
"This is certainly one of the stranger thefts we've had," MacDonald said. "In the three-and-a-half years I've been doing this we've had goats and pigeons stolen, but never honey bees."
MacDonald said it was clear the thieves had to have equipment to lift and load the hives, and were likely people who understood beekeeping.
The theft comes right in the middle of honey production season. Beekeepers in the Fraser Valley begin processing their honey in late August. This year has been a bit wet for beekeepers, and production levels are somewhat low.
MacDonald said anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the Abbots-ford police department at 604-859-5225 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
With a file from the Vancouver Sun
