Approximately 40,000 pounds of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer — valued at $25,000 and equaling roughly 50,000 cans — was stolen on Aug. 17 from an Anheuser-Busch distribution center in Montclair, Calif., about 30 miles east of Los Angeles. The Montclair Police Department said a fraudulent subcontracting company submitted fake documentation to arrange the pickup. Four days later, Pabst posted on social media demanding the return of "our truck" within 18 days and 44 minutes, offering a reward. Police clarified no truck was stolen, only the cargo.

On the same day, a second Anheuser-Busch shipment worth $45,000 bound for Tucson, Ariz. was also stolen. Investigators are examining whether both incidents are part of the same cargo-theft operation. Pabst entered a brewing partnership with Anheuser-Busch last year.

Cargo theft is rising in California, which had the nation's highest risk in Q2 2026, according to Overhaul. Nationally, 605 cargo thefts were recorded in Q2, a 5% increase from Q1. Cargo Net reported losses totaled $725 million last year, up 60% from 2024. Experts say food and beverages are prime targets because they are easier to offload than electronics. Recent high-profile cases include $500,000 in bourbon stolen in Philadelphia and $325,000 in frozen snow crab theft.