An East Cowes resident is asking for the help of their fellow community members in finding out who has been setting fire to numerous vans in the town over the last 3 months, with the suspect still at large.
A total of 4 vans and 2 cars have been damaged in arson-related incidents in recent months.
As previously reported by Island Echo, in the early hours of Sunday 22nd January, a single fire crew from East Cowes tackled an Isle of Wight Distribution van ablaze on Victoria Grove. Then, just 15 minutes later, a 2nd fire was started – this time to a brand new motorhome on the nearby Kent Avenue.
Fire crews from Ryde and Newport worked to extinguish the 2nd blaze which had been started underneath the engine bay, with the perpetrators using a liquid accelerant to speed up the process on both occasions.
1 month earlier similar fires had been set on York Avenue in the town where a Hobgoblin beer van and then an Islandwide Carpets van were destroyed in practically the same spot, just a few weeks apart.
It is believed that other vehicles have been targeted since the events of 22nd January but the fires have been spotted in good time and extinguished before they could take hold.
Officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary are currently investigating the January incidents and are treating them both as arson, with officers conducting door-to-door visits and taking witness statements in the immediate days after the fires.
Local residents have expressed their concerns about the situation, with 1 in particular sending a letter to those in the area around Victoria Grove and Kent Avenue asking for anyone with any doorbell or dashcam footage to come forward in the hope it will aid Police in their inquiries.
In the letter they ask for the help of the community to catch those responsible and say that it could have been a lot worse had the fires spread.
The author of the letter said:
“The outcome could have been a lot worse.
“This mindless crime could have ended very differently and there could have been injuries to members of the local community or members of the fire service who attended the scene.”
I would start by looking at troubled under 18 year olds in a mile radius of the offences. I suspect they will already have form for low level antisocial behaviour.
…Said Cracker.
And all Jones wants to do is stop protesters. She needs to stop the scum and feral brats doing as they like first by putting tags and curfews on them. The police are doing no where near enough to protect people and their property against the low life scum. There needs to be some priorities taken. Protesters aren’t damaging anyone, the scum are.
It’s only a matter of time before this individual kills somebody
Yes, especially by burning motorhomes. Somebody, or multiple people, could be sleeping in the back.
Life in prison for that.
perhaps they should not be living in motorhomes on residential streets avoiding councul tax
Could you be a suspect??
BB, you were clearly dropped on your head somewhen after birth. That’s not the point!!
somebody could be down on their luck or had a disagreement with their partner and decide to Kip in their vehicle.
Is there a time frame when it is assumed these fires were started? Or is the person responsible that intelligent they are setting them up to start at certain times?
Have you guys seen my tooth