60,000 bees stolen from Giant’s pollinator field in Cumberland County

The hives were taken some time between Jan. 28 and Jan. 30.

• By Sean Adams/ PennLive

(Carlisle) — The Giant Company has put out an alert to other beekeepers in the region after the recent theft of three beehives and their colonies from their corporate headquarters.

The hives contained colonies of approximately 60,000 bees, and were taken from the company’s headquarters on the Harrisburg Pike in Carlisle some time between Jan. 28 and Jan. 30.

“Bees are an essential part of our food supply chain and having these beehives were one way we were helping to address the declining bee population here in our hometown community,” said Jessica Groves, community impact manager with Giant, in a press release. “We are extremely disappointed that this happened and are continuing to cooperate with Middlesex Township Police Department.”

The theft comes at a time when bee populations are dropping nationwide, causing serious concern among the nation’s agricultural industry and environmentalists. Roughly one-third of the country’s food supply depends on insects such as honeybees to pollinate plants.

Last year, Pennsylvania beekeepers reported a loss of roughly 41 percent of their hives’ populations, slightly lower than the national average loss of around 45.5 percent of honeybees lost between April of 2020 and 2021.

The company introduced a seven-acre pollinator-friendly field at its Carlisle headquarters back in 2020.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Middlesex Township Police Department at 717-249-7191 or submit an anonymous tip online.