Bay residents should be on the lookout for some missing beehives.

Cushla Humemerry and partner Tristan Pringle have had their bees stolen during the night of Sunday, December 18.

The BOP Apiaries owners say they had 29 two-storey hives stolen from the corner of Junction Rd and Crawford Rd in Te Puna.

Cushla says the thieves made a mess on the land and would have had trouble getting the hives away.

'They would have had to have bee suits on them, because the bees would have been going quite crazy.

'The hives weigh 60 to 70kgs each, so it's definitely a two person job [to move them]. My partner and I both have to lift them, so it's a definite two-person lift. Then they had to lift them over a nine-wire farm fence and they're quite unsteady fences.”

The hives are branded with ‘BOP Apiaries' and they are distinct pastel colours – mint green, blue and purple, says Cushla.

'Our growing concern is that, because we couldn't find them the next day, they may have taken the bees to a honey site anywhere in the North Island.”

The duo have alerted the Police but nothing has turned up yet. Cushla says any information at all could be very helpful.

'Anything around Bethlehem – the hives could have been taken close or afar. So if anyone has seen any suspicious movement of hives that looks a bit suspect or if anyone has noticed new bee sites on the side of the road or on their own private land, just to make sure that they are all hives of that beekeeper.”

The hives, located in Te Puna, are just a few of many that have been stolen recently, says Cushla.

'We've heard a lot of beekeepers that have had hives stolen and your heart just goes out to them, because it's not a nice feeling with all the beekeeping involved.

'You'd think that on the roadside would almost be safer because there's so many people watching, but it's hard to sleep not knowing what's happening out there now.”

The pair are hoping to get their hives back eventually, and Cushla says they're offering a reward for any help.

'We're definitely hoping to find them, but we're very sad in knowing that there's a very slim chance of finding them. We're wondering if anyone saw any hives travelling on a ute or a truck.

'We are happy to offer a reward for any information leading to the hives being found or of who may be involved.”

If you have any information that can help, email Cushla at [email protected]

'It's a shame that we just have too much love for the bees. It's not just a business for us; since my partner was four he was out with the bees and it's all he wants to do,” says Cushla.