TWO cars and a car wash were set on fire by arsonists thought to be as young as 12.
Thousands of pounds of damage were caused in the attacks over a two-hour period in the Roe Lee area of Blackburn.
Police are hunting for three youths after looking at CCTV footage from the car wash.
advertisement
Firefighters were called to tackle the blazes which were described by one resident as "terrifying."
He said the group sounded like children no more than 12 or 13 years old.
The Brownhill Road resident, who asked to remain anonymous over fears he could become a target, said: "I heard children in the street and they sounded very young, maybe 12 or so, which is outrageous, considering the time of night.
"They were making lots of noise and I think they had been drinking. The whole thing was terrifying
"Then I heard this popping noise I wasn't sure what it was but then I realised that they had set a car on fire.
"There have been problems in this area before with teenagers drinking but the area has been quiet for a while."
Firefighters believe all three of the attacks, which happened in the early hours yesterday, are linked but the police have said they are only linking two of the incidents.
The first fire was at an industrial estate in Openshaw Drive around 12.30am, where a white Vauxhall Corsa was set alight and destroyed.
Then at around 1.57am a green Volkswagen Polo worth £8,500 was destroyed after being set on fire in a driveway in Brownhill Road.
Firefighters said it appeared that the windows were smashed and accelerant had been poured into the vehicles because the fires took hold very quickly.
In both incidents youths were either seen or heard running from the area.
Over an hour later, at around 2.15am, the brushes of a BP car wash in Whalley New Road were also set alight.
Watch Manager Damien Hartley said: "Youths were seen running from the first incidents and we were told about a second car fire after reports from residents in the street.
"The youths were also seen running from the fire in the car wash.
"It appears as though the windows were smashed and accelerant had been poured into the vehicles because the fires took hold very quickly."
PC James Gerrie who is investigating the arson attacks, said: "We are investigating two related incidents, one at the car wash and the other on a car in Brownhill Road.
"Extensive damage was caused to the car and the car wash.
"Anyone who witnessed the incidents or anyone with information is asked to contact police."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845 1 25 35 45.
Posted by: Dave, Blackburn on 3:12am Sat 10 May 08
I hope the police catch these scumbags. And what are the parents of these kids playing at letting them stay out at all hours of the morning. The parents should be made to pay the costs of all the damage.
I hope the police catch these scumbags. And what are the parents of these kids playing at letting them stay out at all hours of the morning. The parents should be made to pay the costs of all the damage.
Posted by: andrew, blackburn on 6:05am Sat 10 May 08
The only thing we are doing about yobs running wild is leaving our comments on these sites !!!! People will soon take law into there own hands , having had enough of these YOBS and there PARENTS ! Police chief come down hard , or we will !!!
The only thing we are doing about yobs running wild is leaving our comments on these sites !!!! People will soon take law into there own hands , having had enough of these YOBS and there PARENTS ! Police chief come down hard , or we will !!!
Posted by: the paulmeister, Darwen on 9:07am Sat 10 May 08
Thing is though, if we do decide to take the law into our own hands, we'll end up being the ones in the wrong and getting arrested.
It's just not worth the bother is it...
Thing is though, if we do decide to take the law into our own hands, we'll end up being the ones in the wrong and getting arrested.
Posted by: soap opera, coronation st on 1:02pm Sat 10 May 08
if you stoped the "cant be named for legal reasons"and had pictures of them on the front page of the LT and billboards all over the town with there address the adults might show a bit more interest in what there offsprings were doing at all times of day and night
if you stoped the "cant be named for legal reasons"and had pictures of them on the front page of the LT and billboards all over the town with there address the adults might show a bit more interest in what there offsprings were doing at all times of day and night
Posted by: lifelong blackburnian, Blackburn on 6:03pm Sat 10 May 08
Blackburn is not the same town I grew up in. Perhaps the comment of 'wes of highercroft' explains why it isn't! If it was his property that had been damaged and he had the hassle, inconvenience and expense of trying to sort it out he may come to realise that arson is far more serious than just 'kids having fun'!
Blackburn is not the same town I grew up in. Perhaps the comment of 'wes of highercroft' explains why it isn't! If it was his property that had been damaged and he had the hassle, inconvenience and expense of trying to sort it out he may come to realise that arson is far more serious than just 'kids having fun'!
Posted by: Same Old Faces, Blackburn on 7:20pm Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]lifelong blackburnian[/bold] wrote:
Blackburn is not the same town I grew up in. Perhaps the comment of 'wes of highercroft' explains why it isn't! If it was his property that had been damaged and he had the hassle, inconvenience and expense of trying to sort it out he may come to realise that arson is far more serious than just 'kids having fun'! [/quote] I agree lifelong... the problem is that chavs like 'Wes from Highercroft' dont own their own property because we pay for his housing, benefits and therefore worldly possessions. No doubt he will (if not already) spawn a number of feral children who will grow up to live by his morals..
lifelong blackburnian wrote:
Blackburn is not the same town I grew up in. Perhaps the comment of 'wes of highercroft' explains why it isn't! If it was his property that had been damaged and he had the hassle, inconvenience and expense of trying to sort it out he may come to realise that arson is far more serious than just 'kids having fun'!
I agree lifelong... the problem is that chavs like 'Wes from Highercroft' dont own their own property because we pay for his housing, benefits and therefore worldly possessions. No doubt he will (if not already) spawn a number of feral children who will grow up to live by his morals..
There have been three lads aged about 12 years old, running around the Whalley New Road area at night for the last couple of weeks. They where playing in the woods and blocking the main road with road signs at 1.15am last Tuesday. [quote]quote[/quote]
There have been three lads aged about 12 years old, running around the Whalley New Road area at night for the last couple of weeks. They where playing in the woods and blocking the main road with road signs at 1.15am last Tuesday.
Posted by: Ready and waiting, Brownhill on 7:34pm Sun 11 May 08
Given the BP garage is fairly new, you would hope the CCTV is of decent enough quality for the Police to get some stills of these scumbags. Take them around the local schools and see who recognises them. This may be the downfall for these little b@stards, forgetting about the garage's bright lights and CCTV.
However, everyone who reads these pages is fully aware of how the useless British judicial system will deal with them!
Some out of touch judge will put it down to high jinks and give them a slap on the wrist and tell them not to be naughty boys again.
When really they need a slap around the head with a baseball bat and a sentence in a Borstal. And then get their useless excuses for parents to compensate the two car owners and the garage owner.
Given the BP garage is fairly new, you would hope the CCTV is of decent enough quality for the Police to get some stills of these scumbags. Take them around the local schools and see who recognises them. This may be the downfall for these little b@stards, forgetting about the garage's bright lights and CCTV.
However, everyone who reads these pages is fully aware of how the useless British judicial system will deal with them!
Some out of touch judge will put it down to high jinks and give them a slap on the wrist and tell them not to be naughty boys again.
When really they need a slap around the head with a baseball bat and a sentence in a Borstal. And then get their useless excuses for parents to compensate the two car owners and the garage owner.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
