Beehive Thief Caught in Sting Operation

Sacramento man arrested for stealing valuable pollination equipment

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A 47-year-old Sacramento man named Leonid Terzi was arrested this week for stealing beehives from a property in Yolo County. Police set up a sting operation after noticing the hives had been tampered with, and caught Terzi in the act while he was still wearing his beekeeping outfit.

Why it matters

Beehives are valuable assets for farms that rely on pollination services, and their theft can disrupt agricultural operations and cost owners significant money. This case highlights the risks criminals take in stealing specialized equipment, as well as the proactive steps law enforcement can take to catch such offenders.

The details

Authorities received a report on Tuesday about some bee boxes that had shown up on a property in Yolo County, near Sacramento. Upon inspection, they noticed the markings on the boxes had been altered, indicating the hives were stolen. Police then set up a sting operation and arrested Terzi when he arrived at the location, still wearing his beekeeping outfit.

  • On Tuesday, police received a report about the stolen beehives.
  • Later that day, police conducted a sting operation and arrested Terzi.

The players

Leonid Terzi

A 47-year-old Sacramento man who was arrested for stealing beehives.

Yolo County

The county bordering Sacramento where the stolen beehives were found.

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What’s next

Terzi is facing felony theft charges for the beehive theft, and the judge will determine if he should be allowed bail.

The takeaway

The theft of beehives, which are critical pollination assets for farms, can have serious consequences for agricultural operations. This case demonstrates how law enforcement can effectively combat such crimes through strategic sting operations.