Arson attacks continue across Littlehampton and Wick

SIX cars were destroyed and three beach huts damaged by arson attacks this week, in what is fast becoming a destructive and dangerous trend.

Today (Thursday, March 24) just after 5am, a car was torched in Wick Street, but it was only the latest in a string of attacks.

At about 5.25am last Wednesday, fire crews dealt with a car in flames outside flats in Highfield, Wick, and another was damaged by heat radiation.

On Friday, at about 5.35am, two cars were torched in Greenfields, Wick, and by 10.50pm, two more were in flames, in Peregrine Road, Littlehampton.

It brings the total number destroyed by arsonists in the last three weeks into double figures.

At about 3.45am on Tuesday, beach huts near Norfolk Gardens were set alight.

Littlehampton fire station commander and retained liaison officer, Niall Copper, said arson attacks endangered lives.

“The consequences of fire are so unpredictable,” he added.

On March 7, four cars were torched in Wick, within one hour, and three days later, another car, this time on wasteland off Courtwick Lane, was set alight.

The previous weekend, on February 27, arsonists targeted a car so close to a family home, in Potters Mead, that the house was damaged.

PC David Cook, of the Littlehampton police neighbourhood response team, said: “Sussex Police takes arson attacks like this very seriously.”

On the beach hut attack, he said: “It is not only distressing for the owners but also the community.”

Anyone with information is urged to call Littlehampton police on 0845 60 70 999.