Last week’s alleged beehive heist at Mount Pisa turned out to be an official confiscation by the American Foulbrood Apiary, under the Ministry for Primary Industries.

The owner of the property reported dozens of their hives missing to Cromwell Police last week, but further investigations revealed it was an organised removal of hives in bad condition.

Senior Constable Graham Perkins said the hives had not been registered and the owners had been given a warning in September last year about the state of them.

Because they were in poor condition, they were at risk of affecting other registered beehives and a formal confiscation was made last week to destroy them.

American Foulbrood disease is the most serious honeybee disease in New Zealand and has a major impact on bee populations. 

All beekeepers must be registered under the American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan.

In other police news, traffic was down to just one lane at Millers Flat around 1pm on Sunday after a female driver swerved to avoid what she thought was a black dog on the road, and then hit a bank and flipped her car - also with three grandchildren inside.

The airbag and seatbelts saved them from serious injuries, and they were treated at the Roxburgh Medical Centre.

The owner of a vehicle in Clyde had his car confiscated by police for six months under the new legislation, for driving with a loss of licence.

Snr Const Perkins said since March 1 the mandatory 28-day impoundment has moved to six months, and would place additional pressure on towing contractors having to find somewhere to store them.

Vehicles can be impounded for a range of offences such as driving while disqualified or driving on an expired limited licence. 

Drivers still have a right of reply in the process.