Organisers of a music festival managed to scare off a burglar who broke into their venue looking for the event’s takings.
Rudry Festival was held on Saturday, July 16, at Rudry Parish Hall with revellers and musicians then camping outside the venue.
However disaster almost struck the inaugural event when a thief broke into the hall.
Thousands of pounds worth of musical equipment, including iPads and guitars, had been left at the venue together with £2,000 worth of takings.
The break-in happened at around 5am on Sunday morning.
By chance, one of the event’s stewards was returning to the site and raised the alarm when they realised someone was in the building.
Bio-medical science lecturer Andrew Thomas, 52, from Cardiff, joined three others and managed to scare-off the intruder, who thankfully left empty-handed.
Mr Thomas, a co-organiser, said: “It’s amazing really. If we hadn’t got hold of the guy, we would’ve lost a lot of money and that would have been the end of the festival for next year.”
The Cardiff Met lecturer said several internal fire doors had been damaged while the burglar searched for cash and it was clear that he had intended to take the iPads with him as he had collected them up.
Mr Thomas said he saw the criminal running out of the building carrying a hard drive from the building’s CCTV system, which he dropped.
Despite the break-in, the festival is set to build on its success and return next year.
Mr Thomas added: “This was the first year we put on the festival and it did really well.
“People absolutely loved it and their comments were amazing.
“It’s an original music festival with no cover bands and we are trying to promote local artists.
“This year was just one day, but next year we are going to have a two-day festival.”
Around 200 people attended the festival, which supported the mental health charity Sane, and next year’s is looking to attract around 500.
A spokesperson for Gwent Police said officers were investigating the break-in.
For more information about the festival, visit rudryfestival.com.