Stolen hives

[manz 3]

Heads up for the Whakatane district beeks . So today we discovered 20 hives plus pallets stolen off one of our sites. We were just finishing our possum block (grocery money for these hard times) and no 2 man called up to say um I think you had better come and have a look. He has very good records so as soon as they drove into the site they new something was amiss. I don't often swear but today I had to - it feels like some of my babies have been lost. 😓

[cee-bees 9]

Ah no. Which area around Whakatane? (A few of us will be on the look out)

[manz 3]

Matahina. I would say they are long gone by now - it would have happened within the last 3 weeks. The rest of the site will be moved ASAP in case they come back. The thieves would have known what they were doing. All our boxes are branded and lids and bases are our own design so we will know them if we ever see them again.

[nikki watts 711]

Sorry for your loss. What lowlifes, hopefully natural justice/fate whatever you want to call it takes care of them. 

[Phil46 576]

Arohamai bro,not a good feeling i bet.

[Oma 432]

On 15/08/2019 at 8:07 PM, manz said:

All our boxes are branded and lids and bases are our own design so we will know them if we ever see them again.

 

A photo of your lids and bases on here give us all a chance to keep an eye out for you.  The more eyes looking the better.  Thought with the prices all down there would be less of this.

[Frederick 200]

On ‎15‎/‎08‎/‎2019 at 8:07 PM, manz said:

Matahina. I would say they are long gone by now - it would have happened within the last 3 weeks. The rest of the site will be moved ASAP in case they come back. The thieves would have known what they were doing. All our boxes are branded and lids and bases are our own design so we will know them if we ever see them again.

Bad news Manz and in trying times not exactly what anyone needs.

 

Word to the wise: [.....our boxes are branded and lids and bases are our own design so we will know them if we ever see them again.....] Unless you catch them within a very short period (I'm talking in transport or shortly thereafter) you haven't got a show!

General modus operandi of these scum suckers is to swop the mother load (Frames, stores, brood & bees) into their own gear in the first instance then get rid of the branded and recognisable components (stands, boxes, Lids) by burning or dumping.

Your best chance of  protection is to brand your frames: This ensures they will be recognisable for all time, won't make it through a contract extraction plant or outside inspection and will be in the face of their associates and new workers for all time.

This will at the very least make your hives unpalatable to the thieves and to much bother to deal with while ensuring a much higher risk of being caught and conviction.

 

Good luck with the battle!

[Ali 537]

If it's any consolation at all, the last lot here caught with the goodies (away off the rightful property) were a sorry lot after they were dealt to during the recovery. They became aggressive and found their match well and truly. There has not been a prosecution of the recovery team.

[Gavin Smith 446]

Sorry to hear this. I think we could actually see more of this as desperate people try to make up for the loses that are happening. Be vigilant.

 

[silverhope 25]

Been thru that experience. Not a good one. If caught these people need to be named. So that all in the industry can be wary of these operators.

 

[manz 3]

Well today it got worse. Another 32 hives stolen overnight !!!!! Our sites are in the local Forest behind locked gates but unfortunately this week contractors have been working in there and have been leaving the gates open. The police and Forest Security have been advised but we are putting more cameras out incase they come back. They had blocked up the entrance with a rubber matting material so we have kept that as evidence. Our Registration number is D0871. It's really disheartening as they were bursting with bees getting ready for splitting and pollination . 

[yesbut 5741]

Boy I hope someone gets those mongrels

[M4tt 4925]

Heck that’s not good . Mongrels 

[tommy dave 988]

1 hour ago, manz said:

Well today it got worse. Another 32 hives stolen overnight !!!!! Our sites are in the local Forest behind locked gates but unfortunately this week contractors have been working in there and have been leaving the gates open. The police and Forest Security have been advised but we are putting more cameras out incase they come back. They had blocked up the entrance with a rubber matting material so we have kept that as evidence. Our Registration number is D0871. It's really disheartening as they were bursting with bees getting ready for splitting and pollination . 

insured?

any current or ex-employees with a possible grudge or bills to pay?

Edited August 22, 2019 by tommy dave

[jamesc 3570]

Somebody is obviously optimistic about the industry .....or knows nothing about the fact that hives are no longer a tradeable commodity. 

[manz 3]

Not insured. Can't think of anyone who might want to do this. We thought maybe we should offer a reward for any info or recovery of the hives.

[tommy dave 988]

11 minutes ago, jamesc said:

Somebody is obviously optimistic about the industry .....or knows nothing about the fact that hives are no longer a tradeable commodity. 

or has woken up with a lot of dead hives, and either has some good manuka sites/ is scared of those who have a share in the dead hives / hasn't checked the honey or hive market recently / has found a sucker to buy them

[cBank 789]

@manz are you being targeted or are you the only operator in the area? This is terrible. A bit I find particularly bad is that it’s likely a beekeeper doing it.

 

Has anyone got anything more sophisticated than coloured or branded frames? RFID or tracking or anything?

[jamesc 3570]

19 hours ago, cBank said:

@manz are you being targeted or are you the only operator in the area? This is terrible. A bit I find particularly bad is that it’s likely a beekeeper doing it.

 

Has anyone got anything more sophisticated than coloured or branded frames? RFID or tracking or anything?

I got some quite sophisticated technology ..... but we are not really allowed to talk about it anymore.

[manz 3]

I can finally give an update to our stolen hives. After about 6 weeks of camera surveillance and identifying the thief the police were able to catch him at his home in his "honey shed". He had eventually stolen 80 hives in total but we were only able to recover 30 empty boxes and some lids. He had a nice little set up where he was fibreglassing over our branded number, repainting then painting a new Reg number on. He confessed to some sites but not the ones we had him on camera so he was caught every way. He pleaded guilty (no choice really) and was finally sentenced yesterday. We submitted a full list of what we lost including predicted income from pollination then honey crop. SOOO this is what he got.....4 months Home Detention,  9 months supervision,  and was ordered to repay $15000 to us at $150 per week. Because I've been busy extracting I couldn't go to the court but wish I had just to hear what he had to say, I'm so angry and disappointed with the system. And as well I advised both Asure Quality and MPI of the reg no. of the recipient of the hives but I don't think anything was done.  I'll be following up on that as soon as I have a break. At least we can move on now but we've learnt a bit on the way.

[tristan 3991]

1 hour ago, manz said:

I can finally give an update to our stolen hives. After about 6 weeks of camera surveillance and identifying the thief the police were able to catch him at his home in his "honey shed". He had eventually stolen 80 hives in total but we were only able to recover 30 empty boxes and some lids. He had a nice little set up where he was fibreglassing over our branded number, repainting then painting a new Reg number on. He confessed to some sites but not the ones we had him on camera so he was caught every way. He pleaded guilty (no choice really) and was finally sentenced yesterday. We submitted a full list of what we lost including predicted income from pollination then honey crop. SOOO this is what he got.....4 months Home Detention,  9 months supervision,  and was ordered to repay $15000 to us at $150 per week. Because I've been busy extracting I couldn't go to the court but wish I had just to hear what he had to say, I'm so angry and disappointed with the system. And as well I advised both Asure Quality and MPI of the reg no. of the recipient of the hives but I don't think anything was done.  I'll be following up on that as soon as I have a break. At least we can move on now but we've learnt a bit on the way.

 

have you got a name?

getting names and pics of them around helps a lot.

but yeah the punishment is weak as even when the are a multi convicted hive theft.

[john berry 4799]

What gets me is that when he doesn't pay absolutely nothing will happen. These fines should be paid by the government and it should be up to them to recover the money.

[tristan 3991]

3 minutes ago, john berry said:

What gets me is that when he doesn't pay absolutely nothing will happen. These fines should be paid by the government and it should be up to them to recover the money.

exactly. even the payment to the beek, it will be $5 a week and it will stop in a few weeks time. you have to go chase it etc.

they know all this and play the game.

[john berry 4799]

Name and shame, won't get you your money back but it will make you feel better and  give the rest of us a heads up.

At least your guy was found guilty. We took someone to court once for stealing hives and even though they were guilty as sin a stupid Judicial system and a slimy lawyer saw him walk free.

[kaihoka 2711]

He should have been made to sell his assets and given 3 months to pay your $15000.

Then charged penalty compounding interest on the outstanding amount .

Just like the IRD .