96 Beehives Stolen From Fresno County Field off I-5

The sheriff is searching for the thieves, whose heist is valued at $34,000.

Thieves buzzed off with 93 stolen beehives valued at about $34,000, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department. Courtesy of Fresno County Sheriff’s Department

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is searching for nearly 100 beehives stolen from a field near Interstate 5 at the end of January.

Thieves escaped with 96 hives worth about $34,000 from the field between 5:30 p.m. Jan. 28 and 4 p.m. Jan. 29. Each stolen hive was worth about $350, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Tony Botti, who said he expects the stolen boxes to be rented to another farmer.