A Sacramento man was taken into custody last week for allegedly stealing more than 170 beehives on the Westside, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.
On Feb. 6, deputies took a report of 172 stolen beehives from an agricultural property in unincorporated Gustine.
Authorities said they collaborated with the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force, of which the Merced County Sheriff’s Office is a participating agency, and with investigators to obtain information regarding the possible location of the stolen property.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office said on Feb. 10, deputies with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office located the stolen beehives within their jurisdiction. That agency subsequently conducted surveillance at the site where the hives were discovered.
During the surveillance operation, a suspect returned to the location and was observed attempting to alter and conceal the ownership information branded on the beehive boxes, law enforcement said.
Deputies with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office arrested 46-year-old Leonid Terzi of Sacramento on suspicion of Grand Theft and Possession of Stolen Property. Terzi was booked into the Yolo County Jail.
The stolen beehives were recovered and will be returned to their rightful owner, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office said. Beehives are vital to orchard pollination throughout the region.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office has publicly thanked both of the other law enforcement agencies that assisted in the investigation.
The case remains active. Anyone with information may contact Det. Thomas Griffin at 209-385-7472 or send an email to SheriffTips@CountyofMerced.com
