VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Investigators with the Virginia Beach Fire Department (VBFD) are looking for a person they believe has set multiple fires in the Great Neck area.
VBFD said each has been a relatively small fire, but they want to stop this suspect before someone gets hurt.
"We stumbled across this video that clearly shows somebody going alongside the building lighting something on fire," said Steve Huey, a Fire Investigator with the Virginia Beach Fire Department.
The suspect, caught on a neighbor's camera, is seen pouring gasoline into a mailbox on Enterprise Drive before setting it ablaze. They didn’t stop there.
"On the other side of the building, they set another small fire in a mulch bed right up against the building," said Huey.
This all happened around 10:00 p.m. on September 25th. However, since there was no extensive damage to the buildings and the fire put itself out, no one noticed until early the next morning.
"We got a 911 call for someone who smelled gasoline in an apartment complex leasing office," he said. "The maintenance person went in there that morning and smelled gasoline, but there was no fire at that point."
Huey said they think this same suspect is responsible for setting other small fires in the area lately, like lighting dumpsters on fire.
"Within about a quarter mile, maybe even less than that in the area, there’s been several fires that we also have been looking at where someone lights something and walks away. Very similar MO, very similar build, very similar description to the person we have on video here."
They also believe the person lives in that area.
Huey said they want to catch this person before severe damage is done, or someone gets hurt.
"There’s small children that live very close to where that fire was started. People that at 10:00 at night could have possibly been asleep," he said. "The result was small, but the potential there was huge."
The fire department said they’re looking for any information to identify the person in the video.
If you know anything about these fires, or recognize the person in this video, call the crime line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or submit an anonymous tip through the P3 tips app. You can also contact VBFD at 757-385-4228 to speak with an investigator.