Empty keg thefts increasing

WESTON, Fla., June 9 (UPI) -- Authorities in southern Florida have seen a spike in thefts of empty beer kegs by people thought to be selling the metal containers as scrap.

The Broward Sheriff's Office said the most recent theft occurred May 28, when 10 kegs were stolen from the Carolina Ale House in Weston, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Monday.

Police said another theft the previous day involved $1,000 worth of kegs and other equipment stolen from the Southport Raw Bar in Fort Lauderdale.

Investigators said the thefts increase as metal prices rise and the economy weakens. They said they believe the thieves are selling the empty kegs, which are made of aluminum or stainless steel, as scrap metal.

Beer industry officials said southern Florida, in particular, has seen an increase in the thefts.

"Anecdotal evidence points to a surge of thefts there," said Jeff Becker, president of the Beer Institute in Washington. "It's quickly become a major problem."