The case was quickly closed, however, thanks to one of the attending officers having fortunately completed a bee-keeping course - in which he learnt it was 'difficult' to steal the insects, who, it turns out, were in fact able to leave the hive of their own accord.
"The officer stated it was difficult to steal bees and bees are free to leave the hive," the crime log explains.
Other stolen animals included: acrobatic "circus pigeons" worth £4,000 (NZ$9,000), a bag of mosquitoes, and a horse with its cart. A hollow, ornamental blow fish was also swiped from one house, and interestingly, two teddy bears worth £20 (NZ$45) - "one white with a red nose and red paws, the other yellow" - were also investigated by officers as a case of livestock theft.
Police also logged the mysterious theft of 200 partridges, which, according to the report were stolen all at once by 'persons unknown' using 'means unknown'.
Officers helpfully described a missing 16-year-old black and white cat as having a "chubby tummy". And when probing a case of 19 stolen cockatiels, one was described as having 'one-and-a-half' legs.
Another large, black rabbit was described by police as having "floppy ears" and a "fiery temper".
The amusing details were uncovered in a freedom of information request to the Metropolitan Police, Britain's biggest police force.
In a sign of just how serious police take such cases, the pet names for one stolen tortoise is redacted under strict data protection laws - normally reserved for victims of serious crimes such as rape.
For example, the case notes read: "Leopard Tortoise, black and yellow shell, 10" in length, has old, grey gaffer tape above rear legs on shell, goes by the name of XXXXXX."
Two horses, two parrots, two tortoises, a rabbit, dog, and a "small and skinny" ginger cat also had their names withheld. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said revealing the names "could risk revealing the identities of their owners", who have a right to anonymity.
In other cases, an opportunistic thief robbed a horse and cart worth £1,000 (NZ$2,284) after a suspect took "a horse and mobile market stall not belonging to him and made off from location".
Another robber broke into a garage to steal a "hybrid bike" - and then decided to swipe the owner's tortoise as well. An unlucky pig was also the victim of a cruel attack when thugs threw a "fire extinguisher" at him, causing a gash.
Another chilling tale involves the theft of a grey parrot - which occurred after the owner's ex strangled her until they were unconscious, damaged her TV and stole a number of items, including the bird.
In all, 261 animals worth more than £130,000 (NZ$296,000) were investigated as missing or stolen by police in Greater London since 2012.
The unusual items investigated:
• 1 Tortoise
• 1 Grey Parrot with a red tail about 8-inches tall
• 1 tanned Staffordshire bull terrier
• 1 two-year-old Black Dwarf Rabbit
• 1 cockatiel with one and a half legs
• 19 birds worth approximately £250.00
• 200 partridges
• A horse and cart - a mobile market stall
• 1 chubby cat, a black and white 16-year-old called Bambi
• 2 Teddy bears, two-foot tall. One white with red nose and red paws. The other yellow. Worth £20.
• 1 bag of live mosquitoes stolen from bag left unattended on floor.
- Daily Mail
