York police issued a public warning vehicles were set on fire in three separate incidents in the Berwick Crescent area of Richmond Hill.
On Saturday, June 10, at around 1:15 a.m., police were called to a home on Estoril Street, in the area of Berwick Crescent and 16th Avenue, for a report of a fire. Three people were asleep in the residence at the time when one of them heard noises coming from outside and saw her vehicle fully engulfed in flames in the driveway. Richmond Hill Fire and Emergency Services extinguished the fire. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Video from the area showed a male suspect pouring a flammable liquid over the vehicle and setting it alight – see below.
On Wednesday, June 28 at around 12:30 a.m., police were called to a home on Berwick Crescent, a few streets away from Estoril Street, for another report of a vehicle on fire. The residents noticed their vehicle was on fire in the driveway and were able to exit the home through the back door. No one was injured. A lone male suspect was seen near the vehicle at the time of the incident.
The next day, August 17, at around 2:30 a.m., police responded to a home on Berwick Crescent for another car fire. A neighbour called to report a car fully engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguished by Richmond Hill Fire and Emergency Services and no one was injured.
Investigators reviewed video surveillance from the third incident and observed a lone male suspect pour liquid over the vehicle before setting it alight and running away. It is possible the suspect was injured on this occasion.
The video of the third incident can be viewed below.
The suspect is described as male, medium build, tall, wearing a hooded jacket and with possible burn injuries to hands or face.
The investigation is ongoing.
Police are appealing to anyone with information or who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area to come forward. Investigators would also like to speak with anyone with video surveillance or dashcam footage in the area around the time of these incidents.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police #2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-287-5025, ext. 7241, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
