Vandals glue shut Australian betting shop doors

Link : http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041102/80/f5rrh.html


MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Vandals have glued shut the doors to 25 betting shops in Australia on the eve of the country's biggest horse race.


Australians were expected to bet about A$120 million (49 million pounds) on the 144th Melbourne Cup, known as "the race that stops a nation", to be run over 3,200 metres starting at 5.10 a.m. on Tuesday.


Overnight, vandals pumped quick-drying glue into the door locks of 25 TAB Ltd betting shops in the Victoria state capital Melbourne, officials said.


Punters suffered only minor inconvenience as six locksmiths raced across the city to repair the damage, they said.


"It will take a lot more than superglue to keep punters out of the TAB on Melbourne Cup day," TAB spokesman Bruce Tobin said.


No one has claimed responsibility. Race officials and police say they are investigating but are yet to make a breakthrough.