Montclair, Calif. – The CEO of Pabst Brewing Co., Greig DeBow, announced on Wednesday that the company will pay a reward of up to $20,000 to anyone who provides new information that results in the return of 1,602 cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon and non‑alcoholic Old Milwaukee beer stolen from a Southern California warehouse.
Details of the theft
Police in Montclair say the beer vanished in two coordinated heists on Aug. 17 at an Anheuser‑Busch distribution center about 40 miles east of Los Angeles. In the first incident, roughly $45,000 worth of product destined for Tucson, Arizona, was loaded onto a truck that never completed its delivery. An hour later, a second group posing as a subcontractor submitted falsified paperwork and walked away with another $25,000 worth of beer.
Altogether, thieves made off with about 40,000 pounds of product, which Pabst estimates is valued at $70,000. The company has set a deadline of Sept. 9 for the beer to be returned.
How to help
Anyone with information is asked to contact Pabst’s hotline at [email protected]. The reward will be paid to the first person whose tip leads to the recovery of the missing cases.
Context of recent food‑related thefts
This incident follows a string of high‑profile food thefts across the United States. Late last year, thieves stole 40,000 oysters, lobster worth $400,000, and a cache of crabmeat in New England. In March, Swiss food giant Nestlé reported the loss of 413,793 KitKat bars bound for Poland after they were taken from a production site in Italy.
While such thefts are rare, they highlight the vulnerability of supply‑chain logistics and the importance of vigilant security measures at distribution facilities.
Company response
DeBow posted a short video on TikTok, noting, “I’m sure they look cool with a garage full of PBR. That’s actually not cool though. We want it back.” The public appeal underscores Pabst’s commitment to protecting its brand and ensuring that consumers can continue to enjoy its products without disruption.
Local law‑enforcement officials continue to investigate the case and have asked the public to remain alert for any suspicious activity related to the missing beer.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
