Two trucks stolen from a depot in Runcorn have been recovered by cops, but the 880 kegs of beer is still at larged. Cops fear they may be being sold on the black market
Cops investigating the theft of around 70,000 pints worth of Guinness fear the stout is being sold on the black market. Cheshire Police have recovered two lorries that were stolen in the heist from a depot in Runcorn last Monday.
But they say the 880 barrels of booze they housed is still outstanding. And they have appealed for anyone approached to bulk buy barrels of the iconic Irish stout to come forward.
Detective Sergeant McClatchy said: “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.”
The thieves struck on Bank Holiday Monday and carried out the large-scale heist worth a total of around £205,000 in a matter of minutes.
Detectives said a cab entered the distribution yard at around 7.45pm, hooked up to a trailer containing around 400 barrels of Guinness before driving off 10 minutes later. Around 90 minutes later, a second cab entered the site and took another trailer.
Police say the trailers were found around 30 miles away in Skelmersdale, Lancs.
They say both HGVs used to transport the Guinness were believed to have been driven by men.
One is described as white with a short dark beard and wearing a beanie hat.
The second was believed to be wearing a cap and is thought to have pulled out on a learner driver who may have got a good look at him.
Det McClatchey added: “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.”