A member of the Angus beekeeping community could be behind a theft that hit hives and resulted in the theft of thousands of the insects.
Three queen bees, approximately 45,000 working bees, and three honeycomb frames were stolen from a wood in Craichie, near Forfar.
The president of the East of Scotland Beekeeping Association has asked enthusiasts to be on their guard.
Gavin Ramsay, 57, feels the theft is likely connected to a similar crime in Perthshire, adding it was usual to move bees either at night or early in the morning.
As for the motivation, he said the value of bee colonies can vary, and the culprit could be restocking their own depleted colony.
Police appealed for information after the theft, which happened between midnight on March 29 and midnight on April 20.
