Thieves stole more than 70,000 pints of Guinness from a depot in Runcorn, Cheshire, using two lorries to take about 800 barrels worth £115,000. Police have launched an investigation and appealed for witnesses.
Two lorries used in the theft
Officers believe two lorries were driven into a depot on the Whitehouse Industrial Estate on Aston Lane on Monday. Each lorry connected to a waiting HGV trailer holding a combined total of about 800 barrels before being driven away.
The first lorry connected to a trailer and left the depot at about 7.55pm in the direction of the Mersey Gateway bridge. The second lorry arrived at 9.12pm, connected to another trailer, and left at 9.30pm in the direction of Rainhill and Watkinson Way.
Police appeal for information
Cheshire police are hoping for a full recovery of the stolen items and have appealed for witnesses who may have seen a lorry entering the Aston Lane area at about 7.45pm. Detective Sergeant McClatchy said: "It is famously said that 'Guinness is good for you', but that is only the case when it has been bought and paid for."
"It is with this in mind that we have wasted no time in launching inquires to identify those responsible for the theft of £115,000 worth of Guinness and the two trailers that housed the barrels. We will settle for nothing less than the full recovery of all the items stolen."
Police have asked anyone with information to come forward, and motorists driving in the area at the time to review dashcam footage for anything that could aid the investigation.
Details of the stolen goods
The stolen barrels, containing about 70,400 pints of Guinness, had been intended for delivery to pubs. Diageo, which owns the brand, has a packaging warehouse on the estate.
Police believe both HGVs were driven by men. The first driver was described as white with a short dark beard, wearing a beanie hat. The second was believed to have been wearing a cap.
The trailers were described as white tri-axle curtain side trailers with branding for logistics company GXO on curtains and rear doors. The trucks have unique ID numbers DL736 and DL542 on the top left corner of their rear doors. When accounted for, the total value of the items stolen is estimated at about £205,000.
