Stung! Bees Chase Lead Thieves From East Belfast Roof

Lead thieves got chased off by a flock of bees when they tried to strip the roof of an east Belfast optician's shop, the Belfast Telegraph has warned.

Business owner Sam Baird first realised he had been targeted when he noticed a water leak from the roof of his store on the Upper Newtownards Road on August 15.

He saw that some lead flashing was missing, but unusually, the thieves had left a large amount of lead behind.

He credits the bees in his rooftop beehive with chasing the intruders off before they had the chance to steal more than £20 worth of the metal.

Mr Baird is a member of the Dromore Beekeeping Association.

He said: "I put the empty hives up in the springtime and a swarm moved in and made their home."

He believes up to 50,000 bees could have been in the area at the time of the attack.

"I reported the theft to the police and suggested they check the hospital for bee sting victims," he continued.

"Lead vandalism causes so much damage, cost and inconvenience for a few pounds of scrap. I hope lessons have been learned. It's a lesson in natural justice. As a beekeeper I know how aggressively bees can defend the hive, and what multiple stings feel like.

“They did something wrong and got stung for it."

Anyone with information about the theft can contact Castlereagh police station on 0845 600 8000.

(NE)