Pabst Blue Ribbon beer worth $70,000 was stolen from a Southern California distribution center in two separate heists.
Thieves stole roughly 34,000 cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and non-alcoholic Old Milwaukee beer from an Anheuser-Busch distribution center in Montclair, California. The two thefts occurred on August 17 at a warehouse located approximately 40 miles east of Los Angeles. Police reported that the first heist involved a shipment worth $45,000 destined for Tucson, Arizona, which was picked up but never delivered. One hour later, a subcontracting company submitted fraudulent documents to claim a second shipment worth $25,000 that was intended for San Diego. Montclair police are currently investigating whether the two incidents were part of a single fraudulent operation. Pabst Blue Ribbon has used the theft as a social media promotion, announcing a 40,000-pound cargo weight and offering an unspecified reward for the return of the beer. The company gave the thief 18 days and 44 minutes to return the truckload, no questions asked.
Sources
-
Thousands of cans of Pabst beer stolen in two separate heists in California
The Guardian
-
Company offering reward for safe return of truckload of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer
BBC
-
No pint-sized matter: Thieves steal $70,000 in Pabst beer from California warehouse
NBC News
-
Pabst Blue Ribbon pulls a KitKat: Why brands are turning cargo theft into marketing stunts
Fast Company