MONTCLAIR, CA — Roughly 40,000 pounds of Pabst Blue Ribbon were recently stolen from a distribution center in Montclair, according to police and the beverage company.
The beer was stolen in two separate incidents on Aug. 17 at the Anheuser-Busch facility in the 4500 block of Brooks Street, police said.
A shipment valued at about $45,000 bound for Tucson was picked up around 10 a.m. but never arrived, according to police.
About an hour later, around $25,000 worth of beer was obtained, "after a purported subcontracting company submitted fraudulent documentation to arrange the pickup," the Montclair Police Department said Friday in a social media post.
"Investigators identified similarities between the two incidents and are investigating whether they were committed as part of the same fraudulent cargo-theft operation," the post said.
Pabst Blue Ribbon took to Instagram to address the situation.
"To the thief: we don't fault you for wanting to brag to your friends how much PBR you have, we just wish you obtained it the honorable way," the brand posted on the app.
"Pabst is officially starting the clock now - you have exactly 18 days and 44 minutes to return our truckload of beer, no questions asked. Leading up to that time, we will be offering a reward to anyone who can help us solve this mystery."
Those with information that could be relevant to the investigation are asked to call police at 909-621-4771, authorities said.
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