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Police have CCTV following series of arsons

Friday 12 June 2009, 1:40PM

By New Zealand Police

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CCTV 5
CCTV 5 Credit: New Zealand Police

PALMERSTON NORTH

Police investigating a series of suspected arsons in Palmerston North have obtained CCTV footage from one of the fires.

The fires were:

Sunday 7 June at 7.50pm - a skip was set alight in Skoglund Park causing minor damage.

Sunday 7 June 8.15pm - a tractor shed at Freyberg School was set alight destroying a vehicle used to transport disabled students.

Sunday 7 June 8.40pm - a caretaker's shed at Terrace End School in Ruahine Street was set alight.

Sunday 7 June 11.25pm - a fire on a construction site by the Leisure Plex on Railway Street

Wednesday 10 June at 1am - a fire at a cafe on the Esplanade.

Wednesday 10 June at 1.20am - cardboard was set alight in the yard of a takeaway and dairy on Cook Street destroying the shed

Wednesday 10 June at 3.20am - a fire at the Farmers construction site at the junctions of Church Street and Ashley Street.

An eighth fire early Monday morning (8 June) at Taonui Road is not thought now to be linked.

Police have footage showing a man starting the fire at the cafe on the Esplanade. The man has short cropped hair and is wearing a jacket with reflective strips on the front and back of the shoulders and is carrying a bag across his back.

If the man is responsible for any of the other fires it is possible he was travelling around either on foot or a bike, although a car cannot be ruled out. Police believe that the images are clear enough and the clothing distinctive enough for someone to recognise the man.

If anyone has any information relevant to the enquiry, particularly anyone who recognises the man from the CCTV or saw someone fitting the description on the nights in question, they are asked to contact Detective Jacob Baker at Palmerston North Police on 06 351 3635 or the Crimeline on 0800 0800 808585.

Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 06 351 2546 or 027 234 8256.

Photos: http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=5176