A Sacramento man was arrested after stolen beehives worth tens of thousands of dollars were found in remote Yolo County and returned to their owner.

YOLO COUNTY, Calif. — A Sacramento man has been arrested after investigators recovered several stolen beehives in a remote area of northeastern Yolo County, according to the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were alerted Tuesday to multiple beehive boxes that had recently appeared in the rural area. 

Agricultural crime investigators responded and located the live hives, which authorities say had been altered to conceal identifying markings.

While monitoring the site, investigators observed a suspect return and continue modifying the hives, the sheriff’s office said.

Using resources from the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force, investigators determined when the hives were stolen and identified the rightful owner in a Central California jurisdiction.

The stolen hives, valued in the high tens of thousands of dollars, were recovered and returned to the owner.

Leonid Terzi, 47, of Sacramento, was arrested on multiple felony charges related to the theft.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information about the theft or the discovery of related apiary equipment in Yolo County is urged to contact law enforcement.


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