Thieves steal champagne from parked-up truck

Thieves who stole £40,000 of champagne from a parked-up Hungarian-registered truck on the A40 turned their noses up at a load of cola.

Between 11pm on Sunday 11 January and 5am the following morning, thieves slashed the curtains of an HGV parked in a lay-by on the northbound carriageway of the A40 at Ross-on-Wye. Champagne was stolen from nine pallets.

The vandals also slashed the curtains of an Irish-registered lorry parked in front of the Hungarian truck, but upon finding that it was carrying Coca-Cola they left it alone.

Police Constable Ed Williams of the Vehicle Crime Unit at Hereford Police Station says that owing to the lack of space in the lay-by, the thieves must have removed the champagne by hand.

West Mercia Police is advising the public to keep their eyes peeled for the Nicole d'Aurigny Champagne, which the thieves may try to sell off cheaply.

Anyone with any information is asked to Williams at Hereford Police Station on 0300 333 3000.