Investigators have released a home surveillance video of a man they’re trying to identify seen moments before one of several fires in the Saanich area since Christmas day.
In a media release, Saanich Police said they are investigating a series of arsons and one attempted arson over the past two weeks in the municipality.
The first attempted arson was discovered on December 25th, 2020. The owner of a vehicle parked at their residence in the 4200-block of Carey Road noticed someone had entered the vehicle overnight and attempted to set it ablaze.
Just after midnight on December 26th, another vehicle parked in the driveway of a home just a few doors down from the previous incident on Carey Road was set on fire.
About a week later, on January 5th, at around 5:30 a.m., a hedge was lit on fire in the 700-block of Miller Avenue and nearly 24 hours later, at around 3:30 a.m., a public garbage can on Tillicum Road near the Galloping Goose was set ablaze.
There were no injuries caused by the fires and police say it is to early to determine if they’re all connected to each other.
Police are asking the public to be extra vigilant and to report suspicious activity in their area.
Detectives are also asking anyone with either home video surveillance or vehicle dashcams to check their systems for anything suspicious during the following dates and times:
- between 11:00 p.m. on December 25th, 2020, and 1:00 a.m. December 26th in the
4000 block of Carey Road or surrounding area. - Between 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. January 5th, 2021, in the 700 block of Miller Avenue
or surrounding area.
They’re also looking to identify and speak with a person that was captured on video in the area just before the vehicle fire on Carey Road on December 26th, 2020.
SPD Major Crime Unit is investigating a series of arsons over the past two weeks in #Saanich, one of which was a significant vehicle fire. We are looking to identify and speak to the person in this video clip, which was taken Dec 26 on Carey Rd. Read more: https://t.co/ctTE4Yhs7B pic.twitter.com/EJL4E4Lsjj
— Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice) January 6, 2021
If you recognize this person, Saanich Police are asking people to call 250-475-4321; or you can report anonymously through the Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
