A PONTYPOOL football team were forced to abandon their game after thieves broke into their changing room and stole player’s mobile phones, credit cards and cash.

The thefts happened last Saturday at a game between Trevethin B and Pontypool Town B at Albion Road football pitch, Pontypool.

Players from the Trevethin team went into the changing rooms at half time to discover the glass panel of their changing room door had been smashed.

When the players checked their bags they found several of their mobile phones, credit cards, designer clothes and more than £200 in cash had been stolen.

The door to an office had also been kicked open and another mobile phone was also taken.

After discovering the thefts managers searched the building and found a metal guard that was attached to a small side window had been ripped off.

No-one at the game saw anyone enter the building but league secretary Ray Griffiths said managers believed a child may have got in through the side window with the help of an adult.

Mr Griffiths said he thought whoever was responsible had been watching the game to check that no-one was around before taking the opportunity to break in. He added that thefts from changing rooms were not uncommon but said the last one involving teams in the Knauf Insulation Gwent Central League , that the teams play in, around 18 months ago.

He said: “it’s very sad. I would advise players not to leave any belongings in the changing rooms and to give them to managers or officials to look after during games.”

After discovering the thefts both teams agreed to abandon the game because players were too upset and angry to continue playing.

Trevethin manager, Gary Butler said: “Everyone was very upset and couldn’t see how somebody could have the guts to break into the changing rooms while the game was going on.

“The last thing they wanted to do was to carry on playing the game after their belongings had been taken.”