C.F wrote
 
>OK I just had a full healthy colony stolen...
>
>Normally I try to keep hives on farm property where you have to at least
>drive through a gate and past the owner's home to get to the beeyard. So I
>have never had any theft problems until now. What are other steps that I can
>use to discourage bee  rustlers? Is branding of equipment a deterent? One
>colony is not so bad, but how big is this problem nationwide anyway?
>
>Cesar Flores
>Colorado
 
What I do as a deterrant to thieves is to engrave my name in each end
of the hive in 2 inch tall letters using a router and a homemade
template. In my case I need only 5 letters V.Sten so I can engrave
two ends = 1 box in 5-8 minutes. This is done in the shop, the
template has the size of the end of the hive box for easy line up
and is secured with 2 tack nails. I hold down the box during the
routing with one foot. The router bit I use is a 3/16 round end bit
which leaves very little tear out, the cut is about 1/8 deep.
 
This will work to deter most thieves and if any are stolen a friendly
bee inspector may find them for you.
 
Viktor in Hawkesbury, Ontario