£500 reward offered following spate of Wick arson attacks

A parked car was found on fire in Stanley Road at about 4.35am this morning, Friday 1 April. Shortly before the car was set alight, two men were seen riding a moped. and shouting, in nearby Beaconsfield Road. This moped is believed to be one stolen earlier in the night from Tennyson Avenue, Rustington, and not yet recovered.

Previously a white Ford Escort was reported stolen from a communal car parking area outside Marden House, Wick, Littlehampton, between 10pm on Wednesday 23 March and 7.40am on Thursday 24 March, where it had been left locked and secured. The car was discovered on fire at 2.30am on Thursday in Hawthorn Gardens, Worthing, having been deliberately set alight.

Police are appealing for witnesses at these sites to contact them on 0845 60 70 999 quoting serial 0080 of 24/03 or 0143 of 1/4, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Since the beginning of March, there have been 12 reported arsons, including the two recent ones, to vehicles in the Wick area, and on Satruday (26 March) a shed was deliberately set fire to in Willow Brook, Wick.

Overnight on Tuesday (March 29) a fence was set on fire in Stean Furlong, Wick. There have been other reports of deliberate fires to hedges in and around Rustington and Littlehampton.

Sussex Police are offering £500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for these crimes.

Chief Inspector Jane Derrick, Arun police district commander, said: “Deliberately setting light to anything has serious consequences and I would urge anyone who has any information or may have seen anything to contact us urgently before someone is seriously injured or affected.”