Guinness heist suspects caught on CCTV as 70,000 pints stolen

Images of two suspects wanted for a heist in which 70,000 pints of Guinness were stolen have been released by police. The two men were captured on CCTV as they arrived at industrial park in Cheshire. Footage shows them getting out of HGV cabs and speaking to a security guard to ask for a barrier to be lifted. Police believe the lorries were those used to hook up to two trailers containing the stout worth £115,000. Both men arrived at a depot in Runcorn but about two hours apart. On August 31st police were alerted that two HGV trailers containing about 880 barrels of Guinness had been stolen. Diageo, which owns Guinness, has a packaging warehouse on the Whitehouse Industrial Estate on Aston Lane. One lorry entered the Aston Lane area at about 7.45pm on August 31. It is said to have connected to an HGV trailer containing the Guinness and left the site at about 7.55pm in the direction of the Mersey Gateway bridge. A second lorry arrived at the same site at 9.12pm and connected to another trailer, which also contained barrels of Guinness, before leaving at 9.30pm in the direction of Rainhill and Watkinson Way, police said. The stolen barrels, containing around 70,400 pints of the Irish brew had been intended to be delivered to pubs. The trailers were later located in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, with one having been abandoned in the Hall Lane area at around 3.15am on Tuesday 1 September, and the second left in the Gillibrands Road area at around 12.07pm on Wednesday 2 September. At this time, the barrels of Guinness have not yet been located and no arrests have been made. As part of enquiries to fully establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, officers have now released CCTV images of two people they would like to speak to. It is believed they hold vital information in relation to the incident. Detective Sgt Gary McClatchley said: "Our officers have been following numerous lines of enquiry since the incident was reported to us, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has gotten in contact so far. "However, we will not settle for anything less than the full recovery of the near 900 stolen Guinness kegs and the locating of the offenders behind this brazen heist. As our investigation continues, we are now looking to identify the two men captured in the CCTV footage as we believe they hold vital information. "I'd urge anyone who recognises these men contact us so that we can progress with our investigation and I would also strongly encourage the men in the footage to please come forward. "As we have previously stated, these kegs are stolen goods that are looking to be sold on by criminals. So, we are continuing to urge anyone who is approached by any prospective Guinness sellers to remain cautious and, as always, report any suspicions to police.' Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cheshire Police via the website, or by calling 101, and using incident reference number IML-2408641. In a statement, Cheshire Police said: "Further enquiries revealed that one trailer had been left in the Hall Lane area at around 3.05am on Tuesday 1 September, with the second having been left in the Gillibrands Road area at around 12.07pm on Wednesday 2 September. "As the second trailer was deposited at the site, the HGV that had been carrying it is believed to have pulled out in front of a silver/white Renault Captur that was being driven by a learner driver. "The barrels of Guinness, which are believed to be worth approximately £115,000, have yet to be located and no arrests have been made at this time." Police are now appealing to residents of the Skelmersdale area for any information which may aid their enquiries to get in touch. Investigating officers are also keen to hear from anyone who may have been approached to purchase barrels of Guinness in bulk over the past few days.