Brewery 'rocket' is snatched

Police in Lichfield are hunting thieves who stole a 25ft long stainless steel "rocket" from a Lichfield firm which was due to be shipped out to a brewery in Ghana.

The culprits stole the stainless steel brewery vessel, which is thought to have a scrap value of around £3,000, from the site of Hi-Line Services, on Britannia Enterprise Park, between Sunday lunchtime and yesterday morning.

Managing director Mike Conway said the theft had to be organised crime as opposed to an opportunist theft because the vessel would need to be transported on a specialist vehicle.

"The vessel was standing outside our works, ready to start modifications to it, and it was going to a brewery in Ghana," said Mr Conway."It was here at lunchtime on Sunday, but was not here yesterday morning.

"When it is in service it stands on legs, vertically. In transportation it lies on its belly. On a vehicle it would be on its belly with its legs sticking out - looking like a space rocket.

"It probably has a scrap value of £3,000, but it is worth a lot more. We have paid a lot more for it as a working vessel. And it is only just less than a wide load in transportation."

Mr Conway is urging anyone who saw the vessel being stolen, or followed it as it was being driven away, to contact the police.

"Because of the high value now of stainless steel scrap, someone has seen it and decided to steal it," said Mr Conway. He added that the firm, which employs around 30 people and specialises in stainless steel hygienic equipment for businesses and dairies, had a number of stainless steel sheets stolen about a year ago.