MERCED COUNTY — More than 170 beehives stolen from an agricultural property near Gustine were recovered last week after a multi‑county investigation that led to the arrest of a Sacramento man, authorities said.
Deputies with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office took the initial report on Feb. 6 after the property owner discovered 172 hives missing. The hives are critical to orchard pollination across the region, and their theft can disrupt crop production during peak bloom.
Investigators with the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force — a statewide network that includes the Merced County Sheriff’s Office — developed information about a possible location for the stolen equipment. On Feb. 10, deputies with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office found the bee boxes within their jurisdiction and began surveillance…