A lorry containing more than 41,000 bottles of Irn-Bru has been stolen from a depot in Cumbernauld, with Police Scotland now investigating the theft.
Theft from Little Drum Road Depot
The distinctive orange lorry, loaded with 22 tonnes of Irn-Bru, was taken from one of the soft drink manufacturer's partner facilities on Little Drum Road, Cumbernauld, during a raid on the evening of Sunday, September 27. The stolen cargo comprised 26 pallets of 500ml bottles of Regular and Zero, totalling 41,184 bottles.
The soft drink manufacturer says the haul, dubbed the work of the "Bru-bandits," was valued at £30,000. The lorry was subsequently captured on CCTV travelling south of the border and has been spotted in Cumbria.
Irn-Bru's 125th Anniversary Context
The theft occurs as Irn-Bru has been marking its 125th anniversary by celebrating iconic advertisements, including the renowned Electric Lady, which features a grandmother ram raiding a newsagent's in a mobility scooter to secure cans. Nevertheless, Irn-Bru bosses maintain that early indications suggest this was not an elderly woman on a mobility scooter.
Irn-Bru have dubbed it the "Great Girder Mystery" and urged people to watch out for unexplained quantities of ginger appearing across the nation.
Appeal for Information
Kenny Nicholson, Brand Director at IRN-BRU, said: "It was an interesting decision by the robbers, it's not like a bright coloured IRN-BRU truck is easy to hide. We think they've forgotten just how recognised IRN-BRU is - even in England."
"We appreciate their great taste but it's really not on, we hope they are caught 'orange handed' soon, with Police Scotland's finest on the case. The next line of enquiry must be 'where the truck do you hide 41,000 bottles of BRU?' If you have spotted anything suspicious, anyone with an unusually high stock of BRU, please get in touch with Police Scotland."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Enquiries are ongoing into the reported theft of a trailer, containing pallets of soft drink bottles, from a premises on Little Drum Road, Cumbernauld, which happened shortly before 6pm on Sunday, 27 September, 2026. Anyone with information should report this to us via 101, quoting reference number 1461 of 28 September 2026."
