Half-soaked thieves left empty-handed today after their stolen lorry plunged into a canal.
The lorry was being driven along the canal towpath, off Walsall Road, Walsall Wood, at 6.30am when it into the water.
Police said the offenders were believed to have to have escaped from the cab, but the canal would be searched in case they had drowned.
The lorry was taken from the Chasewater Industrial Estate overnight, loaded with women's clothing and accessories.
Insp Pete Haywood, at Walsall police, said: "It looks like the offenders managed to negotiate getting down on to the canal towpath and we believe they may have been on their way to unload the lorry. "But they have either misjudged the size of the lorry or the road and they have ended up going in the canal. "As far as we are aware, the offenders managed to get away and all the signs point to that but the worst
case scenario is they may have gone under. "We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the lorry go into the canal or heard the splash. "It may even be the case that the drenched occupants could have been seen running down the road or they might even have serious injuries."
Anyone with information can contact police at Walsall on 0845 113 5000.
