Sting Operation

Kamron Koehnen had been robbed. During the night, thieves had snuck onto his property in Ord Bend, California, and made off with more than $2,000 worth of loot. The crooks hadn’t stolen money, electronics, or jewelry—they’d snatched 14 boxes of live honeybees. “Each of those hives was worth about $150,” says Koehnen.

Koehnen’s family has been raising bees for generations. They also grow almonds, a crop that depends on the bees for pollination. The bees visit the family’s almond flowers to drink their sweet nectar. As they do, powdery pollen grains get stuck to the bees’ fuzzy legs and transferred between flowers. That allows the trees to make the nuts they need to reproduce. Farmers harvest these nuts for people to eat (see Pollination 101).

Kamron Koehnen had been robbed. During the night, thieves had snuck onto his property in Ord Bend, California. They’d taken more than $2,000 worth of loot. The crooks hadn’t stolen money, electronics, or jewelry. Instead, they’d grabbed 14 boxes of live honeybees. “Each of those hives was worth about $150,” says Koehnen.

Koehnen’s family has been raising bees for generations. They also grow almonds. This crop depends on the bees for pollination. The bees drink sweet nectar from the family’s almond flowers. As bees visit the flowers, powdery pollen grains stick to their fuzzy legs. The bees carry the pollen between flowers. That allows the trees to make nuts. Trees need the nuts to reproduce, and farmers pick the nuts for people to eat (see Pollination 101).

Farmers who don’t raise their own bees rent hives to pollinate their crops. As a result, hive thefts have become a huge issue. Thieves nab the bees and then rent out their pollination services to make a quick buck. With rental fees per hive reaching about $200, a farmer can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on bees per year. “A lot of people don’t understand why someone would want to steal beehives,” says Rowdy Jay Freeman, a beekeeper and deputy sheriff in Butte County, California. “It’s all about money.”

Freeman and other California rural crime investigators are working to crack down on the increasing number of hive thefts. But it’s not an easy job. Officers must rely on tips from members of the community and the few clues left at crime scenes—both of which would prove vital in solving Koehnen’s case.

Some farmers don’t raise their own bees. Instead, they rent hives to pollinate their crops. That’s why hive thefts have become a huge problem. Thieves steal the bees. Then they rent out their pollination services to make fast money. Rental fees reach about $200 per hive, so a farmer can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on bees per year. Rowdy Jay Freeman is a beekeeper and deputy sheriff in Butte County, California. “A lot of people don’t understand why someone would want to steal beehives,” he says. “It’s all about money.”

The number of hive thefts is increasing. Freeman and other California rural crime investigators are working to crack down on the problem. But it’s not an easy job. Officers need tips from members of the community. They also look at the few clues left at crime scenes. Both of these would be needed to solve Koehnen’s case.

Honeybees pollinate about a third of the produce people eat, from apples to zucchini. Beekeepers truck their bees all over the U.S. to pollinate crops during different parts of the year. California’s almond season lasts for about four weeks in February and March. During that time, an estimated 85 percent of all honeybees raised in the U.S. help pollinate more than 1 million acres of almond trees in bloom.

Almonds are a valuable crop, and their production has soared in recent years. Beekeepers have struggled to supply enough bees for farmers’ needs. Along with growing demand, beekeepers face new challenges in maintaining healthy hives (see Inside a Hive). Bee colonies are increasingly being devastated by diseases, parasites like mites, and toxic pesticides. Now, on top of these issues, comes a growing wave of thefts.

Honeybees pollinate everything from apples to zucchini. In fact, they pollinate about a third of the produce people eat. Beekeepers truck their bees all over the U.S. to pollinate crops at different times of year. California’s almond season lasts for about four weeks in February and March. About 85 percent of all honeybees raised in the U.S. take on the job. They help pollinate more than 1 million acres of blooming almond trees.

Almonds are a valuable crop. Lately, their production has shot up. Beekeepers are struggling to supply enough bees for farmers’ needs. Besides growing demand, beekeepers face other challenges. They need to keep their hives healthy (see Inside a Hive). But diseases are destroying more and more bee colonies. So are toxic pesticides and parasites like mites. Now, a growing number of thefts add to these problems.

Koehnen was angry about the theft, but also grateful that more of his hives hadn’t been stolen. “A while back, we got hit by thieves who stole 240 hives,” he says. “That was a bad year.” Between 2014 and 2017, California experienced a surge in bee-related crimes. Hundreds of hives were being swiped at a time in different locations. Officers thought someone had to be coordinating the heists.

In 2017, not too long after that year’s almond bloom, detectives in Fresno received a report about a vacant lot on the outskirts of the city littered with bee boxes of different colors, shapes, and brands. The officers investigated and arrested a man at the scene. After following additional leads in the case, they tracked down more than 2,500 stolen beehives worth an estimated $875,000. Some of the recovered equipment was labeled with Koehnen’s brand. “We got about 80 of our hives back,” he says.

Koehnen was angry about the theft. But he was also grateful that more of his hives hadn’t been stolen. “A while back, we got hit by thieves who stole 240 hives,” he says. “That was a bad year.” Between 2014 and 2017, bee-related crimes rose in California. Thieves were taking hundreds of hives at a time in different places. Officers thought someone had to be organizing the crimes.

Not too long after the 2017 almond bloom, detectives in Fresno got a tip. Bee boxes of different colors, shapes, and brands were in an empty lot just outside the city. The officers went there and arrested a man at the scene. Then they followed other leads in the case. They tracked down more than 2,500 stolen beehives worth around $875,000. Some of the recovered boxes were marked with Koehnen’s brand. “We got about 80 of our hives back,” he says.

Despite some convictions, beehive theft continues to grow, says Freeman. “As long as the pollination fees are high, people will steal bees.” He advises beekeepers to mark hives with a state registration number, their company’s name, and a phone number.

Koehnen has gone a step further, tagging his bee boxes with tiny GPS trackers. These devices use satellite networks to provide information about the hives’ location. If moved, the hives’ trackers send Koehnen a text notification. “He’s on guard every night during bee season,” says his wife, Julie. “He keeps his phone on the nightstand. If it goes off while we’re sleeping, we know someone’s stealing.”

Some thieves have been caught and convicted. But beehive theft remains a growing problem, says Freeman. “As long as the pollination fees are high, people will steal bees.” He tells beekeepers to clearly mark their hives. They should include a registration number from the state, their company’s name, and a phone number.

Koehnen has gone a step further. He tags his bee boxes with tiny GPS trackers. These devices use satellite networks to locate the hives. If the hives are moved, the trackers send Koehnen a text message. “He’s on guard every night during bee season,” says his wife, Julie. “He keeps his phone on the nightstand. If it goes off while we’re sleeping, we know someone’s stealing.” 

Police are turning to the same technology to aid their investigations. They plan to start tagging bee boxes in vulnerable areas with GPS trackers. They’re also going to spray the boxes with a solution that dries clear but glows fluorescent green when viewed under a special light. “The hope is that when the thieves steal the bait, the tracker sends an alert to our phone, and we track them down to their location,” says Freeman. “Then we shine the light on the stolen equipment, and it illuminates.” With this approach, they may be able to catch the crooks red-handed. Hopefully, this kind of sting operation will teach bee-nappers that stealing hives doesn’t pay.

Police are turning to the same technology to fight the problem. In areas at risk, they plan to tag bee boxes with GPS trackers. They’re also going to spray the boxes with a solution that dries clear. But it glows fluorescent green under a special light. “The hope is that when the thieves steal the bait, the tracker sends an alert to our phone, and we track them down to their location,” says Freeman. “Then we shine the light on the stolen equipment, and it illuminates.” They’ll have caught the crooks red-handed. Hopefully, the sting operation will teach bee-nappers that stealing hives doesn’t pay.