Hutchings, a fifth generation beekeeper who operates Debbee’s Bees, says the culprits got away with more than just her insects.

“They had taken a bunch of my equipment and 10 big hives and the 16 nucs.” Nucleus colonies — or nucs — are small bee colonies created from larger ones.

Hutchings now has about 30 large hives left which she will continue to use to breed more bees.

Read more here: Ontario beekeeper stung by late night hive heist