New Zealand manuka honey has been targeted in a series of brazen thefts from Sydney chemists, beauty salons and supermarkets. The bizarre new crime wave has seen thieves working like busy bees aiming to swipe the expensive manuka honey, selling for A$80 ($86) per jar, and subsequently dispensing it on the black market. David Gates, Acting Crime Manager for Sydney City Police Detective Inspector, said there was no doubt stores were being stung for manuka honey by individual gangs. The word-of-mouth reports of manuka honey taken by sticky bandits leads Inspector Gates to believe criminals are taking advantage of a demand on the black market for the produce. Manuka honey is made by bees that feed on the manuka bush or jellybush tree in New Zealand and Australia respectively.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 16, 2016 17:26 UTC