THIEVES have broken into a tourist attraction near Ponterwyd and stolen a safe which was bolted to the floor.

Simon Pickard, the owner of The Silver Mountain Experience, hopes information about the break-in posted on Facebook will lead to the thieves being identified and arrested.

Simon, who has operated the mine as a tourist attraction for seven years, said: “We had a minor break-in about five years ago when some confectionery was taken but we haven’t had a concerted effort like this. It seemed to be a very professional job.”

Simon told the Cambrian News that entry was made at the back of the building on the evening of Saturday, 28 July.

“They took out a rear window and smashed their way in to the office,” he said.

“They removed the safe, which was bolted to the floor, and then walked out the front door with it.

“I had a day off on Sunday but when my colleague, Wendy Hurst, arrived to open up, she could see the door was open and called me in.”

The mine remained closed for the morning of 29 July for police to carry out an investigation of the premises, but the attraction was able to open soon after.

“We brushed ourselves off and we were back open again by lunchtime on Sunday,” said Simon.­

But the break-in has left him and his staff feeling understandably upset.

“When I got the call I was angry and frustrated,” he said.

“Like every business we’re just trying to earn a crust and the last thing you want, especially in the school holidays, is something disrupting that.”

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