Mark Bedillion tells a local television station that he's sold locally produced honey at his farm and market in Hickory since 2005. Neighbors tell police they saw four men drive away with the seven of the hives the beekeeper has at his home in East Finley Township, about 20 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. The hives were stolen Wednesday.
Bedillion expects another beekeeper is behind the thefts because beekeeping and locally produced honey are both becoming more popular. But that's not the only reason Bedillion suspects a competitor.
He says whoever stole the hives "would have gotten stung a lot if they weren't experienced. They might be in a hospital by now."
