New Zealand company offers lifetime of beer for stolen laptop

A boutique brewery in New Zealand was reported Thursday to be offering a lifetime supply of beer in return for a stolen laptop.

The computer, containing designs, creative work, contact details and financial information, was stolen from the Croucher Brewing Company in the central North Island city of Rotorua.

Owners Paul Croucher and Nigel Gregory are so desperate to get it back, they are offering free beer to whoever turns in the person responsible for the burglary, Rotorua's Daily Post newspaper said.

Croucher said the laptop contained important information and while the company had back-up copies of its work they were not as up-to-date as the stolen data.

A "lifetime supply" equal to about 12 beers each month was offered to anyone who could name the thief. Croucher said.