MyFoxLA.com reports the expensive detergent has become so popular with criminals it's known as "liquid gold." Police in San Bernardino, Calif. tell the station Tide is being stolen from stores and being traded for small amount of drugs on the streets.

Authorities say the most popular items stolen are liquid detergent and detergent pods.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports Tide theft is a nationwide problem, but police in San Bernardino and Riverside counties are in particular noticing a rise in instances of Tide being used as drug currency.

San Bernardino police Sgt. Travis Walker tells the paper detectives raiding drug houses in recent years were puzzled when they found lots of Tide. They later determined the detergent wasn't being used to make drugs but to buy them.