For San Francisco readers keeping up-to-date on world news, we are pleased to present this story from The BBC.

Activists who carried out a campaign where the locks of about 20 chain stores in Aberystwyth were jammed with a filler are being hunted by police.

Shopkeepers in the Ceredigion seaside town were also left leaflets which read: “Save our small shops”.

Among the businesses targeted were Waterstones, Halfords and Boots.

One manager had to smash a window to gain access to his premises on a retail park, while another was forced to change her town centre store’s locks.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that about 20 businesses were targeted in the town centre and nearby retail parks.

Some of the shops were left leaflets which read: “Achubwch ein siopau bach” – “Save our small shops”.

"People are losing their jobs left, right and centre and then this happens"
Ian Bailey

Shopkeepers said activists used putty or a car body filler, which was left to harden overnight.

The manager of Halfords in Aberystwyth, Ian Bailey, said police told him that 24 chain stores had been attacked in the town.

He added: “Most of the town’s major chain stores were targeted.

“It did not affect our business because we smashed a window to get in, but some shops did not open until about midday.

“I’ve heard the substance used to jam the locks described as superglue, but it was more like a putty or car body filler which was left to harden overnight.

“It’s annoying. People are losing their jobs left, right and centre and then this happens.”

Lynne Sayer, manager of Boots, said the locks had to be changed at her store.

She added: “The locksmith told me it was some sort of car body filler, but it hadn’t hardened properly in our lock, but we had to have the locks changed anyway because of this stupid prank.

“We have CCTV inside the shop and the footage has been passed to the police.”

Dyfed-Powys Police said they were investigating.

A spokeswoman said: “A number of commercial premises in Aberystwyth were damaged on the night of Friday 19 – Saturday 20 December.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation

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