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Honey sting a hive of crime
25 Aug 2003
The New South Wales south coast is undergoing its worst spate of honey thefts anyone can remember. Stealing honey and honey bee rustling have become busy new enterprises, due to soaring domestic honey prices.
Production is down 70 per cent due to the drought and the wholesale price of honey has skyrocketed from about $400 for a 300kg drum to up around $1,500. A single beehive can net a thief $100 in cash, but it costs the owner $200 to $300 to replace.
Beekeepers routinely move their hives around New South Wales, generally about six times a year, but the drought has forced them to travel longer distances to find flowering plants, meaning hives are unattended for longer periods. Although beekeepers try to keep their bees out of sight, there's no way for them to guard against theft.
NSW Apiarists' Association president Greg Roberts said drought and bushfires have resulted in production falling to the lowest level in memory. Beekeepers keep stock in state forests, where bushfires destroy many hives. Producers depend almost solely on native flora for their bees, which makes Australian honey so sought-after.
The Daily Telegraph, 25/8/03, page 16.
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