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None of your beeswax? Man charged with stealing from honey farmer

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A Chowchilla man allegedly stole nearly 200 pounds of beeswax from a honey farmer to melt into blocks and sell to support his drug habit, authorities said.

Karl Robert Glick, 26, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of burglary and possessing stolen property after deputies found the stolen beeswax at his home, said Erica Stuart, a spokeswoman for the Madera County Sheriff’s Department.

“This is a bonafide agricultural theft,” she said.

Glick, who worked as beekeeper for the farmer, reportedly melted the wax into blocks so he could easily sell it, Stuart said.

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Investigators believe Glick may have stolen and sold wax to support his drug habit, Stuart said.

Along with the beeswax, he reportedly stole a heater from the farmer, who authorities said discovered the theft after finding a sales receipt.

A Fresno-based company had apparently purchased the wax, which sells for about $3.20 per pound.

Although deputies have investigated thefts of bee hives, this incident was the first involving beeswax in Madera County, Stuart said.

For breaking news in Los Angeles and throughout California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA. She can be reached at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.

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