TRADERS on the Llyn Peninsula have hit out at a “lack of police presence” following a spate of burglaries.

Three businesses, Aqua Beach Bar in Llanbedrog and the Zinc Bar and Grill and Footprints in Abersoch, were broken into on the evening of 27-28 May and a ‘substantial’ amount of cash was stolen.

Concerns have now been raised by a local commerce group that a low police presence may have been a factor in the break-ins.

Alan Harper-Smith, a member of the Abersoch District Trade and Tourism Association, said that at last week’s meeting there was a “suggestion that more police presence would have been useful over the bank holiday weekend - it is rumoured that the local policeman was on holiday”.

In response to the concerns, local inspector Gethin Jones at Porthmadog Police Station, said: “It would be inappropriate for me to comment upon individual officers’ duties and time off as we all have a collective responsibility and commitment to police all our communities at all times as was the case over the period of time in question.

"I can confirm that the investigation into the series of break-ins in the Abersoch area between 27 and 28 May, is still on-going and I would repeat our appeal for witnesses and request to the local community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.”

Police are treating the incidents as linked and are appealing for information on ‘suspicious persons’ seen in the area and, in particular, a black Mercedes Benz.