Thieves haul away 800 Guinness barrels from Cheshire depot

A large quantity of Guinness intended for pubs was stolen from an industrial estate in Runcorn, Cheshire, after two lorries were driven into a depot and connected to trailers loaded with barrels, according to Cheshire police. The theft occurred on Monday evening at the Whitehouse Industrial Estate on Aston Lane. Police believe the first lorry arrived at about 7.45pm, connected to an HGV trailer and left roughly 10 minutes later in the direction of the Mersey Gateway bridge. A second lorry reportedly reached the depot at 9.12pm. It was attached to another trailer before leaving at about 9.30pm, travelling towards Rainhill and Watkinson Way. Together, the trailers held around 800 barrels containing approximately 70,400 pints of Guinness. The beer was estimated to be worth £115,000. Including the two trailers, the total value of the stolen property was put at about £205,000. Police said the barrels had been scheduled for delivery to pubs. Diageo, the company that owns Guinness, has a packaging warehouse at the industrial estate. Cheshire police are seeking witnesses, particularly anyone who saw a lorry entering the Aston Lane area during the relevant period. Officers have also asked motorists to check dashcam recordings for footage that could assist the investigation. The two trailers were described as white, tri-axle curtain-side vehicles bearing GXO logistics branding on their curtains and rear doors. Their identifying numbers are DL736 and DL542, displayed near the upper-left corner of the rear doors. Police said both HGVs were believed to have been driven by men. The first driver was described as white, with a short dark beard and a beanie hat. The second driver was believed to have been wearing a cap. Detective Sergeant McClatchy said officers were seeking the full recovery of the barrels and trailers as they worked to identify those responsible.