BRAZEN thieves have left a community theatre group’s 80 young members devastated after they stole £2000 worth of kit destined for their musical show.

CCTV captured two men break into Barry-based Pukka Productions’ white Vauxhall Vivaro van when it was parked in Illminster Street on Tuesday, February 21.

The images reveal the incident happened between 10pm and 10.20pm.

South Wales Police is appealing for help with its investigation.

Pukka Productions director Sarah Creasey said the youngsters and the group’s 30 adult members were “gutted” and just wanted the items returned.

She said four headmics, only acquired by the group on Monday, February 21, had been taken along with a prop six-foot, wooden frame oval mirror with smashed mirror effect on one side, and old clothes.

Mrs Creasey, 42, of Court Road, said she and her husband and co-director Duncan Creasey, 49, normally take anything of value out of the van.

But her husband had felt ill, they were preparing for the Tommy musical show, at the Norwegian Church, Cardiff Bay, this week and he had accidentally left the silver flight case with other items in the van.

She said the group had spent a lot of time and effort fundraising to buy the equipment, save on hire costs for productions, put on shows, and enable four youngsters to get involved without paying to be involved.

Mrs Creasey said: “We wanted to use the mics for Tommy and use them for every show in future. We had one rehearsal with them and we were whooping, but we came back and accidentally left them in the van. We never leave stuff in the van – that what’s devastated us. It is so frustrating.”

The incident, caught on camera, shows two white men – one wearing a distinctive long, black leather jacket – smash a window to open the door and take the goods.

She added: They’ve taken a six-foot mirror. How did nobody see them walking around Barry with a six-foot mirror? It took hours of work to make, but the only thing of real value were the microphones. We’re desperate to get them back. That’s the dream ending. People have been amazing with offers of support. There has been a real community spirit.”

Anyone with information should call 101, or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 quoting occurrence: 1700069036.