Organised vandals attacked three estate agents and left an anti-capitalist slogan daubed on a shopfront.

Austin Gray in Dyke Road, Brighton, was defaced with the words “shelter not for profit” and had three windows smashed early on Wednesday morning morning.

Police later linked the vandalism to attacks at two Ditchling Road estate agents, Halls and Maslen, on Tuesday night.

Officers are studying CCTV footage and investigating whether any anti-capitalist groups have become active in the city.

Eight panes of glass were smashed and a vodka bottle full of paint was thrown through a window at Maslen.

Manager Paul Wilkinson said: “Marks on other windows looked like they had been made by someone trying to smash them with a brick lying nearby.”

At Halls, paint was thrown through smashed panes of glass in the shop door.

Director Stuart Wiseman said he believed the attacks were aimed at shops in prominent spots.

He said: “It seems to be quite organised.”

Anyone with information about the attacks is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.