The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page was abuzz this week with news of man’s arrest for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of bee boxes.
According to the social media post, sheriff’s investigators culminated an ongoing agricultural theft probe Tuesday by serving a search warrant in the 34000 block of County Road 25, southwest of Woodland, where they reported finding more than 70 bee boxes reported stolen from at least six Yolo County beekeepers.
“The value of the bee boxes alone was over $18,000, plus additional beekeeping supplies and the lost revenue the bee keepers incurred,” the post said. “Bee box thefts are unfortunately common in Yolo County and the surrounding area.”
Justin Purdue, 35, of Yolo County, was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property (the bee boxes), methamphetamine and stolen motor vehicles, which sheriff’s officials said included two all-terrain vehicles and a motorcycle found on the property.
