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Two men have been caught on CCTV in connection with a huge ‘Guinness heist’ that saw more than 70,000 pints stolen.
Police have released footage of the pair as they investigate the theft of around 800 kegs from a depot in Runcorn, Cheshire.
The Guinness, worth an estimated £115,000, was taken on Monday, August 31, and has still not been recovered.
No arrests have been made.
Two trailers involved in the theft were later found abandoned in Lathom, near Skelmersdale, Lancashire, around 30 miles from the depot.
Now Cheshire Police are appealing for information about the two men captured on CCTV.
In the first clip, a white lorry arrives at the entrance to the depot.
A man gets out of the driver’s seat and walks towards the gate, where he appears to speak to someone before the gates open.
He then gets back into the cab and drives onto the site.
Later that evening, a second lorry arrives.
Another man appears to speak to someone at the entrance before the gates are opened and he drives into the depot.
Police believe both men could have vital information about the theft and are urging anyone who recognises them to come forward.
Detectives are also appealing to anyone who has been approached about buying Guinness at suspiciously cheap prices.
The force has warned that the stolen kegs could now be being offered for sale by criminals.
Detectives believe one lorry and HGV trailer left the depot at around 7.55pm carrying Guinness kegs which had been waiting to be delivered to pubs.
A second lorry arrived at 9.12pm and attached another trailer loaded with Guinness before leaving 18 minutes later.
The depot is on the Whitehouse Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Runcorn and is used by Diageo, the company behind Guinness.
Detective Sergeant McClatchey said officers had been following ‘numerous lines of enquiry’ since the theft was reported.
He added: ‘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.’
He said police were now trying to identify the two men seen in the footage, who investigators believe ‘hold vital information’.
‘I’d urge anyone who recognises these men to contact us so that we can progress with our investigation,’ he said.
‘I would also strongly encourage the men in the footage to please come forward.’
The officer also warned anyone offered Guinness for sale to be cautious.
‘These kegs are stolen goods that are looking to be sold on by criminals,’ he said.
‘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 information is asked to contact Cheshire Police.