Arson suspect bailed after eight cars ‘maliciously’ torched in ‘chaotic …
A man arrested in connection with a spate of car fires in Hartlepool has been bailed.
Residents in several streets of the town were terrified when they were awoken by explosions and cars ablaze[1] in the early hours of Friday morning. Many of the vehicles were destroyed, leaving a trail of debris and burned tarmac and owners facing the cost and inconvenience of replacing them.
On Sunday, Cleveland Police[2] confirmed the 31-year-old they arrested shortly after the fires has been released on bail. The force is now appealing for information and footage linked to the blazes.
A spokesperson for the force said: “Officers continue to appeal for footage and information following a spate of arson incidents which occurred in the early hours of Friday, August 18 in Hartlepool. Police received a report of vehicle fires on Caledonian Road, Baden Street, Shrewsbury Street, Lansdowne Road, Osborne Road, Stockton Road and Brinkburn Road at around 1.30am.
One of the cars ablaze during the early hours of Friday morning
“A total of eight vehicles were damaged and a small number of residents were evacuated from their homes for a short period of time. The 31-year-old man arrested on suspicion of arson has been bailed with conditions whilst enquiries continue.”
Among the devastated vehicle owners was Paul Brackstone, 59, of Jubilee Homes, whose Range Rover, which he described as his ‘pride and joy’, was destroyed. He said: “It was 20 years old, but I had really looked after it.”
The lorry driver said he was awoken at around 1.15am by the bang and saw his car in flames. He said: “It brings you back to the Beirut days.”
He said everyone has been left wondering why this has happened.
A Range Rover destroyed in the spate of car fires. (Image: Teessidelive)
Ava Stoddart, 19, was staying at her boyfriend’s house in Caledonian Road and said the first thing she knew was when someone was knocking on the door at 1.30am saying her car was alight. She said she was ‘shocked’, but was planning on selling the VW Corsa in the future.
In Landsdown Road, Keith Cahill was alerted in the early hours of the morning from his daughter saying their car was on fire. Like the other vehicles the Zafira was destroyed.
Keith, 41, who lives with his wife Ashleigh and three children aged 10, 14 and 15, said they have never had any bother in the street. He said: “Hopefully it was just a one off.”
As the news of the fires spread across the town, residents described the scenes as “absolute chaos”.
Keith Cahill outside his home in Landsdown Road, Hartlepool, where his car was set ablaze
District commander for Hartlepool, Superintendent Martin Hopps, said in a press conference following the arson attacks that there appears to be a path “trawled by the offender” and cars were “maliciously ignited”.
He said: “We know these incidents have caused some concern for residents and officers will be in the area carrying out high visibility patrols today and over the weekend to reassure the public. I would urge anyone with information or any CCTV or dash cam footage that could help with our enquiries to get in touch with us.”
Today Cleveland Police said: “Officers are continuing to investigate and would again appeal to anyone with information or anyone with any relevant CCTV or dash cam footage to contact Cleveland Police on 101, quoting reference number 164288.”
Footage can be uploaded here[4]
References
- ^ explosions and cars ablaze (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Cleveland Police (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ CSI at Tesco Express as Normanby store closed its doors following alleged incident (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ here (unitedkingdom1cpp-portal.digital-policing.co.uk)