Liberated Minks pursued by farmers

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Farmers and other locals were chasing thousands of minks let out of their cages at a fur farm in western Finland early on Friday by suspected animal rights activists.




About half the 2,500 minks released from unlocked cages in Mustasaari, 400 km (250 miles) northwest of Helsinki, had been recaptured by 1000 GMT, but it could take several days to round up the others, police said.

"We have no firm suspects at the moment. But the letters EVR were spray-painted on a feed silo at the farm. In this connection it usually means Animal Liberation Front in Finnish," Chief Inspector Mika Jylha told Reuters, but added: "Of course, anyone could write that."

Mannequin theives nabbed

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Two men are charged with commercial burglary for stealing a mannequin and the Budweiser shorts it was wearing.

Hattiesburg police tracked down Jeremy Carothers and Josh Ashleyon on Friday.

Police say they broke a window at JMH Graphics and snatched the brown mannequin.

Police say they solved the crime when they went to Carothers' home and noticed the mannequin, minus its head, inside a truck parked there.

A police spokesman said the mannequin's clothing was found inside the home.

Carothers, a 22-year-old Hattiesburg man, and Ashley, a 24-year-old Wesson man, were both arrested and charged with commercial burglary.