Boston Blotter: BeerTheft!

--Those kids who swiped beer from neighbors' garages were amateurs. Some real killjoys didn't go for the beer – they went for what makes the beer. Thieves swiped copper pieces and empty beer kegs from the Wachusett Brewery, and the theft was only recently discovered. The thieves managed to liberate what WBZ described as "a twelve-foot-long flue stack, weighing approximately 400 lbs."

The copper pieces were "part of a large antique onion-dome style brewhouse made in Germany in 1951."

We'd be surprised if the thieves aren't caught soon. How can anyone miss a twelve-foot-long flue stack? Or 52 stainless steel kegs?

Oh, and the owner is also offering a reward for the return of the materials.

--The party line designed to encourage people to report rowdy, illegal parties in Boston isn't exactly aflame with calls. The Herald quoted a police dispatcher as saying, "I don’t think people know we’re here."

We have always maintained that parties don't kill people, guns kill people, and we'd hate to spoil a party. But you should know the line in case you see someone puking in your yard or it's five am and the neighbors just won't shut up. So here's the line if you feel you need it: "617-343-5500."

All charges alleged unless proven under law. Image from Beerfest, which showcased brewery rivalries. Hmmmm … now that we mention it … oh, we'll just let the law work it out.