Chula Vista police sought the public’s help in identifying who is responsible for a series of overnight vehicle fires in the Terra Nova area over the past two months, the latest of which happened early Thursday.
The new car fires occurred about 3 a.m. in an apartment complex parking lot of 400 Sanibelle Circle, police said. Firefighters notified police that it appeared to be arson.
Then, about 4 a.m., investigators heard popping sounds that turned out to be a burning vehicle a few hundred feet away on Belle Vista Drive. A 2009 Honda Civic was destroyed, and 2011 Toyota Corolla was damaged, authorities said.
The burned vehicle on Sanibelle Circle, a Mercedes-Benz C250, was destroyed, and flames damaged a Ford Edge SUV next to it.
Both fires appeared to have been set in a similar manner, fire officials said. Arson investigators were already looking into several other vehicle fires in that same area.
The most recent was a single-vehicle fire about 4 a.m. Monday. That vehicle was parked at Terra Nova Drive, a cross street to Belle Vista Drive.
Officials said the circumstances were similar to the latest car fires.
On March 23, about 5:30 a.m., police responded to calls of six different vehicles damage by fire. Two of them were parked on 400 Sanibelle Circle, and the other four were parked on 400 Belle Vista Drive. The vehicles had burn damage to the side mirrors and doors.
Police said it appeared a suspect or suspects tried to ignite the vehicles using a butane torch or other similar device.
Anyone with more information on the car fires is asked to call Chula Vista police dispatch at (619) 691-5151 and ask for property. Or to remain anonymous, call (619) 422-TIPS.
– City News Service
