70,000 Pints of Guinness Stolen from UK Depot
More than 70,000 pints’ worth of Guinness with an estimated value of £115,000 to £205,000, including two stolen HGV trailers, were taken from a packaging warehouse and depot in Runcorn, Cheshire, according to Cheshire Constabulary and reports from The Guardian.
The Runcorn Depot Heist: How the Operation Unfolded
Thieves targeted a packaging warehouse operated by brand owner Diageo on the Whitehouse Industrial Estate on Aston Lane in Runcorn, near Liverpool, according to law enforcement records.
The first lorry entered the Aston Lane area at approximately 7:45 PM, connected to an HGV trailer, and departed around 7:55 PM, heading toward the Mersey Gateway bridge. A second lorry arrived at the site later that evening at 9:12 PM, secured a second trailer, and left at 9:30 PM in the direction of Rainhill and Watkinson Way, as detailed by Cheshire police.
Valuation and Logistics Discrepancies Across Reporting Outlets
Media outlets and investigators have reported differing total financial estimates for the stolen property. According to The Guardian, Det Sgt McClatchy stated that the value of the Guinness alone reached £115,000 (approximately €133,000), while the total economic impact including the two trailers pushed the estimated loss to roughly €238,000. Meanwhile, The Guardian reported the combined value of the barrels and the trailers at approximately £205,000.
The targeted units were white tri-axle curtain-side trailers bearing distinct branding for logistics company GXO on their curtains and rear doors. Investigators noted that the trucks feature unique ID numbers—DL736 and DL542—printed on the top left corner of their rear doors, details that police hope will trigger recognition among commercial drivers and warehouse operators.
Police Appeal and the Search for Suspects
Cheshire Constabulary has launched a comprehensive investigation to trace the stolen cargo, which was intended for delivery to pubs across the region. Authorities describe the suspects as men who drove the HGVs from the scene. The first driver is described as white with a short dark beard, wearing a beanie hat. The second driver was reportedly wearing a cap.
“It is famously said that ‘Guinness is good for you’, but that is only the case when it has been bought and paid for,” Det Sgt McClatchy said in a statement issued by Cheshire police. “It is with this in mind that we have wasted no time in launching inquiries 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.”
Officers are urging motorists who were driving in the Runcorn, Aston Lane, and bridge areas during the timeline of the thefts to review dashcam footage.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the GXO-branded trailers, ID numbers DL736 and DL542, or the stolen barrels containing approximately 70,400 pints of Guinness is asked to contact Cheshire police directly to aid the ongoing recovery effort.