Dublin Beer Bandit Raids Guinness

[Kor37 9]

Dublin Beer Bandit Raids Guinness

By SHAWN POGATCHNIK,AP

Posted: 2007-11-30 05:19:55

DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) - Irish police were hunting for a beer bandit who stole 450 full kegs from the Guinness brewery - the largest heist ever at Ireland's largest brewer.

 

National police said a lone man drove into the brewery - a Dublin landmark and top tourist attraction - on Wednesday and hitched his truck to a fully loaded trailer awaiting delivery to city pubs.

 

Diageo PLC, the beverage company that owns Guinness, said the brewery had never suffered such a large-scale theft before in its 248-year history.

 

Police said the raider took 180 kegs of Guinness stout, 180 kegs of U.S. lager Budweiser and 90 kegs of Danish beer Carlsberg. Guinness brews both of those foreign brands under license for sale in Ireland.

 

Police declined to say whether the theft had been captured by closed-circuit surveillance cameras. No description of the suspect was issued, suggesting that nobody got a good look at him.

 

Each keg holds about 88 British-sized pints, the most common serving size in Ireland, equivalent to 20 ounces each. The total theft involves 39,600 pints with a retail value exceeding $235,000.

 

Police said it would be difficult for the thief to sell the stolen beer without attracting attention, unless he has criminal associates who own a network of pubs.

 

But customs agents say it is common for pubs to sell stolen or smuggled cigarettes and alcohol, particularly counterfeit-labeled supplies of vodka, to avoid paying hefty taxes.

 

In the past, the outlawed Irish Republican Army and other gangs have hijacked truck shipments of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes for resale in pubs run by sympathizers or friends. Those raids typically happen in rural areas, never in the center of Dublin.

 

The Republic of Ireland, a country of 4.2 million, has more than 10,000 pubs and bars. The Guinness brewery in Dublin is the biggest supplier, producing more than 5 million kegs annually.

 

 

Somebody is having a great party right about now!... :P

[trekz 7]

Dublin Beer Bandit Raids Guinness

By SHAWN POGATCHNIK,AP

Posted: 2007-11-30 05:19:55

DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) - Irish police were hunting for a beer bandit who stole 450 full kegs from the Guinness brewery - the largest heist ever at Ireland's largest brewer.

 

National police said a lone man drove into the brewery - a Dublin landmark and top tourist attraction - on Wednesday and hitched his truck to a fully loaded trailer awaiting delivery to city pubs.

 

But customs agents say it is common for pubs to sell stolen or smuggled cigarettes and alcohol, particularly counterfeit-labeled supplies of vodka, to avoid paying hefty taxes.

 

The Republic of Ireland, a country of 4.2 million, has more than 10,000 pubs and bars. The Guinness brewery in Dublin is the biggest supplier, producing more than 5 million kegs annually.

 

 

Somebody is having a great party right about now!... :P

Perhaps, in the spirit of the beer fridge thread, Kor should volunteer to visit all 10,000 pubs, until this theft case is solved! :P

 

I visited the Guiness Brewery (and the Jameson Distillery too) when I was in Dublin in 2002. Both are great stops to make in Dublin. I'm just sorry there weren't any fully loaded beer trucks unsupervised when I was there. :huh:

[Kor37 9]

I want to solve the mystery only so I can join the massive keg party that is no doubt going on right now!.. :P