Police have issued a fresh appeal for information after around 880 barrels of Guinness worth an estimated £115,000 were stolen from a depot in Runcorn. Two HGV trailers containing the popular stout were reported stolen on Monday, August 31, before they were later found dumped in the Lathom area of Skelmersdale.
However, the trailers' cargo - 70,000 pints worth of Guinness - is still missing and no arrests have been made. Officers investigating the theft have now issued a fresh appeal to residents in Skelmersdale, where the trailers were found abandoned.
Trailers dumped in two locations
One of the trailers was left in the Hall Lane area at around 3.05am on Tuesday, September 1. The second was abandoned on Gillibrands Road at around 12.07pm on Wednesday, September 2.
Police say that as the second trailer was being dumped, the HGV pulling it is believed to have pulled out in front of a silver or white Renault Captur being driven by a learner driver.
Witness appeal and suspect descriptions
Investigating officers are also keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around the time the trailers were abandoned. Both HGVs used to transport the Guinness are believed to have been driven by men. The driver of the first lorry is described as white, with a short dark beard and wearing a beanie hat. The second man is believed to have been wearing a cap.
Police are also appealing to anyone who may have been approached about buying Guinness barrels in bulk in recent days.
Detective's statement
Detective Sergeant McClatchey said: "While I am glad that we have located the HGV trailers taken from the depot some 30 miles away in Runcorn, our enquires into identifying who was behind this large-scale theft, along with the recovery of the stolen stout, remains ongoing.
"With that, we are now asking any residents of the wider Skelmersdale area, who may have seen anything suspicious or sighted the lorry trailers that housed the Guinness barrels, to please get in touch with police.
"In particular, we would like to speak to the learner driver or instructor that was in the Renault Captur when the the second HGV is believed to have deposited the trailer.
"We would also like to hear from any local businesses or anyone who has been approached out of the blue regarding the purchase of barrels of Guinness over the past few days.
"I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that these kegs are stolen goods that are being sold on by black market criminals, so I would urge anyone who has any suspicions as to where a prospective seller may have got their goods from to contact police."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cheshire Police via the website, or by calling 101, and using incident reference number IML-2408641.
