Arson Attacks On Family Homes

By Natalie Verney, 20th February 2012, 15:13

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward following two arson attacks on family homes in Houghton Regis last week.

The first happened at 8pm on Monday February 13 in Chelsea Gardens, Houghton Regis, when the offenders tried to put a sealant bottle that had been set on fire, through the letter box. Thankfully the family noticed what had happened and were able to extinguish the fire before any serious damage occurred.

On Tuesday February 14, a second attack took place on another home in the same street at around 9.30pm when a wheelie bin was set on fire. Thankfully, the bin was away from the house itself and did not cause any damage to any other property.

Detective Constable Nicole McCaffrey, who is investigating the two attacks, is keen to hear from anyone who was in the Chelsea Gardens area of Houghton Regis on either Monday or Tuesday and may have seen anything suspicious.

She said: "Thankfully no one has been harmed as a result of these arson attacks and damage has been kept to a minimum. However, we need to catch the person or person who are committing these offences and stop any serious incidents from occurring.

"I would really like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of either offence, or from anyone else who may have information - however small or insignificant they think it is - that could help us. Don't dismiss your information as unimportant - even tiny details which don't seem relevant now might become useful later on in the investigation."

If you have information relating to this incident, contact DC McCaffrey, in confidence, on 01582 473318, the non emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org