Stolen Grog Haul Left On Side Of Road

Sun Herald

Sunday December 7, 2008

By MATTHEW BENNS

A TRUCK fully laden with $30,000 worth of beer was left with the engine running on the side of the F3 motorway.

Police officers found the eight-tonne flatbed truck with the hazard lights flashing and keys in the ignition after thieves abandoned it.

"We don't know what spooked them - maybe a highway patrol car went past," a police spokesman said.

The thieves had earlier broken into a business in Wallarah Road in Muswellbrook by cutting a hole in the fence and kicking in the lock on a door.

They broke into the office to get the truck keys and used two forklifts to load on 11 pallets of beer and spirits. The alcohol included 65 cases of Corona, 120 cases of Crown Lager, 70 cases of Hahn Premium, 40 cases of Pure Blonde, 180 cases of Victoria Bitter and 130 cases of Jim Beam cans.

The thieves were driving the truck towards Sydney when they decided to abandon it on the side of the F3 near Cowan last Sunday night.

The spokesman said: "It appears they panicked and left the truck where it could be found. The truck was towed to a secure holding yard at Gosford until the owner could collect it. The total value of the alcohol was about $30,000."

© 2008 Sun Herald

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