Urgent inquiries into arson attacks

POLICE in Ipswich are today conducting urgent inquiries into a series of arson attacks, amid fears someone could be seriously hurt by joy riders who steal and torch cars.

As reported earlier this week, a firestarter stepped up an ongoing rampage in the town early on Tuesday, setting light to five cars.

Between 2.45am and 6am blazes were started in five vehicles, adding to two fires the previous morning and several more over recent weeks.

Already, two families have had their lives endangered after a three-car inferno in Hurricane Place and today, Chief Inspector Bruce Robinson has said he needs the public's help to catch the culprits before someone is hurt.

He said: “Urgent inquiries are continuing into these and similar recent events which have occurred in and around the town.

“As the public would expect we are looking closely at and responding positively to these serious criminal acts.

“The individual or persons responsible for these thoughtless and potentially lethal acts should seriously consider the consequences of their behaviour.

“Because of the location of vehicles outside residential properties it is not unforeseeable that a home could catch fire with potentially fatal consequences.”

Fires have taken place in Bramblewood, Christchurch Street, Cobham Road, Hawke Road, Heather Avenue, Ellenbrook Road, Landseer Park, Woodrush Road and Hurricane Place in the last few days.

It is not yet known if all the fires had been started by car thieves, or if they are all connected.

However, police have stepped up patrols in the area and a number of lines of investigation are being pursued.

Insp Robinson added: “As always we need the public to be alert and to report suspicious activity.

“If someone close to you is coming home in the early hours of the morning and they smell as if they have been near a fire, let us know as soon as possible. Your information could save lives.”

Anyone with information should call Ipswich CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Police have arrested two people on suspicion of the theft of a motor vehicle.

A 16-year-old boy and 22-year-old man were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

It is not yet known if their arrests are linked to the recent spate of car fires.

Have you been a victim of the arsonists? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.