Keg thefts across Melbourne costs pubs thousands of dollars
Three people have been arrested following a series of beer keg thefts across Melbourne.
The thieves have been active for the past five months, targeting Melbourne pubs and stealing thousands of dollars' worth of kegs.
60 kegs were found by police on February 23 at a property in the Melbourne suburb of Dallas.
Further raids on properties in Oak Park and Epping led to the arrests of a 34-year-old man, a 32-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman.
The trio face charges of theft, handling stolen goods and trespass and will appear in court in August.
The ABC learned that one brewery had more than $60,000 worth of kegs stolen.
Empty beer kegs weigh about 12 kilograms and can cost between $150 and 200.
Kegs are generally left outside overnight for suppliers to clean, refill and return full of beer.
A Reservoir brewery told the ABC it had lost near $100,000 in keg theft.
Kegs may also be sold for scrap metal for around $20 each.
Jonathan Jackson, 21st March 2024
