VALPARAISO | A Valparaiso beverage distributor reported to police a 30-foot tall bottle of Miller Lite is missing.

The inflatable bottle, which holds only air -- not beer -- was taken Sunday night or Monday morning after a weekend event.

The only thing the company doesn't know is what the thieves plan to do with the giant balloon.

"It probably looked cool, but they can't really do anything with it," said George Douglas, chief operating officer for North Coast Distributing in Valparaiso.

Douglas said the fan used to inflate the $4,000 bottle was removed by the company, so it can't be inflated. And even if another fan is found, the thieves will find it hard to hide a 30-foot bottle of beer, Douglas said.

Douglas is hoping the thieves or someone who finds the balloon will call North Coast Distributing and arrange to return it. He said the company might even trade some 12-ounces bottles for the much larger one.

Douglas said the bottle was stolen Sunday night or Monday morning from the area of Harley-Davidson of Valparaiso, 1151 W. U.S. 30. The bottle was deflated after a rally and the blower used to inflate it was removed. North Coast was planning to return for the bottle Monday, but it was gone.

This is the first such theft and Douglas calls it a "sad day" at the company, but he is hopeful the bottle will be returned.

Anyone with information is asked to call North Coast Distributing at (219) 464-2337.