Thieves steal $20,000 worth of local beekeeper's hives

BANKS COUNTY, Ga. — A local beekeeper is out thousands of dollars, and now police are hoping to find the thieves who took his hives.

Channel 2's Lauren Pozen spoke to the beekeeper who says thieves took $20,000 worth of hives.

Don Kuchenmeister has over 55 years of experience with bees and teaches others what he knows.

"We have vets come out here we have disabled ones and we teach them how to cope with life. This is relaxing for some," he said.

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Kuchenmesister said on Sunday morning dozens of hives were stolen.

”Maybe (in a) half an hour or 30 minutes they took off with $15,000 to $20,000 worth of equipment," he said.

Kuchenmesister said he noticed indentations on the ground leading to up to his hives.

“I would say there had to be at least a half a dozen people and there’s another vehicle that came up here so somebody was helping them load," he said.

He doesn’t know the thieves' intentions, but has an idea.

"People that come steal have an idea how it works with bees they might have worked for a bee keeper before they have a general idea they don’t have no money so they steal it to get themselves in business or they steal it to resale it real quick," he said.

As for those thieves, he has a message for them.

"I hope you get stung good," he said.

Cox Media Group