'Caught orange-handed': Police hunt thieves who swiped 41,000 bottles of Irn-Bru in Scottish lorry heist

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026 · last updated 10 October 2026.

Thieves stole a bright orange Irn-Bru lorry loaded with 41,184 bottles of the iconic Scottish drink from a depot in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, on the evening of 27 September. CCTV tracked the distinctive vehicle heading south across the border into Cumbria. The haul — 26 pallets of 500ml Regular and Zero bottles — is worth almost £30,000.

Brand director Kenny Nicholson quipped the robbers had 'forgotten just how recognised Irn-Bru is, even in England.'

Police Scotland are urging anyone who spots an 'unusually high stock' of the orange drink to call 101 quoting reference 1461 of 28 September 2026.

The 22-tonne haul would fill 250 bathtubs or cover the entire Grand Hall at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.