As if breaking in wasn’t bad enough, they then committed an act of cruel sabotage
17:41, 17 Oct 2025Updated 17:47, 17 Oct 2025
A popular Welsh restaurant has been left reeling after a burglary in the early hours of Monday, October 13. Burger Boyz, which has grown a loyal following since its launch in 2021, was targeted by an individual who forced entry into its Cardiff premises and made off with a small sum of money.
Marcin Sadlos, director of Burger Boyz, spoke to WalesOnline about the break-in, detailing the impact on the restaurant and its operations.
“We are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays,” Marcin explained. “I was in the office on Wednesday when I got the call from one of my staff members who comes in first thing to do a deep clean.”
Upon arriving at the restaurant, based in Canton, Marcin reviewed CCTV footage and discovered the burglary took place on Monday night at around 10.30pm. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here
The Burger Boyz premises in Cardiff was targeted by an unknown individual(Image: Burger Boyz)
“That’s was shocking, because at that time of night, there are still people around,” he said. “The individual was in there for about 15 to 20 minutes, ransacking the place. They only took a couple of quid from the tip jar – around £20 – but they made a mess of the place.”
Despite the break-in, the restaurant has since resumed normal operations with minimal disruption.
“We’ve opened back up without too much commotion,” Marcin added.
However, the damage done was not just financial.
CCTV footage showed the intruder, wearing a balaclava, smashing a window to gain access to the restaurant.
In a bizarre act of sabotage, the individual also opened the freezers and fridges, allowing the restaurant’s stock to spoil.
“That was the most frustrating part,” said Marcin. “We had to dispose of all that food. It’s one thing to break in and steal, but to intentionally ruin our operations like that is just disappointing.”
While the break-in itself was a shock, Marcin revealed that it wasn’t the first time the restaurant had been targeted.
“When we first opened, there was an attempt at a break-in during renovations. They didn’t get in, but this time, the person had a shock hammer and used it to smash through the window,” he explained.
Following the break-in, Marcin noted that local residents had shared their own experiences with crime in the area.
“It’s disappointing, especially when we get messages on social media from local residents saying that this is a regular occurrence. All the businesses on this row have had similar problems with break-ins or attempted break-ins. To the residents, this wasn’t a massive surprise,” he said.
Despite the setback, Burger Boyz has received overwhelming support from the community, with many patrons pledging to place orders in solidarity.
“It’s been nice to see the community come together. People have commented on our posts, saying they will order this week to help us out. That’s been really uplifting,” Marcin said.
South Wales Police confirmed the burglary, stating that a window at the rear of the premises was smashed at around 10.30pm on Monday. The thief made off with money from a tip jar, and the investigation is currently ongoing.
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “We can confirm a burglary took place at the premises on Monday, October 13. The person responsible forced entry by smashing a window and made off with money from a tip jar. An investigation is underway. Anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious is urged to contact 101 – please give reference 2500329616.”
The restaurant has also offered a £500 reward to anyone with information, in the hope of catching the thief.
The Burger Boyz restaurant, known for its delicious burgers and laid-back atmosphere, was founded by schoolmates Marcin and Jack Phillips in 2021.
The duo made the bold decision to leave their full-time engineering jobs and pursue a career in the culinary world. They initially started with a food truck before taking over the kitchen at The Red Lion pub in Port Talbot. From there, they moved to Newport Market, before opening their first permanent location in Port Talbot.
The brand has since expanded, with a second restaurant opening in the Welsh capital, Cardiff, on July 18. Located in Cowbridge Road East in the Canton area, the Cardiff location occupies the former space of the Ansh restaurant, further cementing Burger Boyz as a growing force in the Welsh restaurant scene.