Gustine, CA (February 11, 2026) — A total of 172 stolen beehives taken from an agricultural property in unincorporated Gustine have been recovered following a coordinated investigation involving the Merced County Sheriff’s Office and the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office.
According to authorities, deputies with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office took the initial theft report on February 6. The hives, described as critical for orchard pollination across the region, were reported missing from a rural agricultural site. Investigators, working through the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force, developed information pointing to a possible location in Yolo County.
On February 10, deputies in Yolo County located the stolen bee boxes in a remote area of northeastern Yolo County and began surveillance. During the operation, investigators observed a suspect returning to the site and allegedly attempting to alter or conceal branded ownership markings on the boxes…