The mystery may now have been solved as Faro GNR officers have tracked down and arrested a man on suspicion of stealing 250 bee hives.
These honey bee homes have been disappearing across the Algarve in alarming quantities, bringing despair to farmers in some of the most remote areas of the region who rely on the sale of honey often for a sizeable part of their income.
The GNR noticed that the occassional reported theft had turned into a steady flow and decided to crack the problem.
The Centre for Criminal Investigation of the GNR in Faro opened an investigation which swiftly led to the identification and arrest of the suspect, a 37-year old man.
A warehouse and yard was being used to store the hives, many of which already have been identified by owners from Faro, São Brás, Alcoutim and Loulé.
"This is the largest seizure of beehives ever registered in the Algarve region, highlighting their considerable economic value.”
The return of the hives is now dependent on a court order. With the country’s courts in stasis this may take months before the hive owners can have their property back.
The GNR are not convinced that the man they arrested is the only hive thief active in the region and are continuing their investigations.