MERCED COUNTY — More than 170 beehives stolen from an agricultural property near Gustine were recovered last week after a multi‑county investigation that led to the arrest of a Sacramento man, authorities said.

Deputies with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office took the initial report on Feb. 6 after the property owner discovered 172 hives missing. The hives are critical to orchard pollination across the region, and their theft can disrupt crop production during peak bloom.

Investigators with the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force — a statewide network that includes the Merced County Sheriff’s Office — developed information about a possible location for the stolen equipment. On Feb. 10, deputies with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office found the bee boxes within their jurisdiction and began surveillance.

During the operation, a suspect returned to the site and was seen trying to alter or conceal the ownership brands on the boxes, deputies said. Authorities arrested Leonid Terzi, 46, of Sacramento, on suspicion of grand theft and possession of stolen property. He was booked into the Yolo County Jail.

The beehives were recovered and will be returned to their owner, according to the sheriff’s office.

The recovery comes amid a rise in beehive thefts across Northern and Central California, where hives — often valued in the tens of thousands of dollars — are frequently targeted during almond pollination season. In recent weeks, Yolo County deputies have recovered other stolen hives that had been altered to conceal ownership markings, according to sheriff’s reports.

Merced County officials thanked the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Rural Crime Prevention Task Force for their assistance. The case remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Thomas Griffin at 209‑385‑7472 or email SheriffTips@CountyofMerced.com.