BBC News : 'Bee rustlers' sting Japanese apiarists

Japanese bee-keepers have been warned to be on their guard, following a spate of hive thefts.

The price of honeybees has doubled in recent years after a ban on imports. Police suspect a gang of specialist thieves is stealing honeybees to order.

In central Shizuoka prefecture, eight hives of 60,000 bees were taken in a single night from five separate farms.
I have read lots of weird or funny news stories about Japan, but that's a first.