Arsonists torch two cars

A still from CCTV footage of the attack on Lomax Street

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Arsonists poured petrol over two parked cars before setting them on fire.

At around 10.50pm on Sunday 23 March two men approached an address on Rivington Street in Rochdale; one placed a jerry can on the bonnet of a Range Rover Evoke before making off on foot towards Wellington Street.

The second man then set fire to an unknown object and threw it on to the windscreen, causing the jerry can to ignite before making off towards Wellington Street.

The two men then appeared on Lomax Street, where they were seen to repeat their actions, this time setting fire to a VW Golf parked outside a house.

Again, they made off towards Wellington Street and are thought to have run towards Taylor Street via Folly Walk.

The occupants of the house called the fire brigade and police, but not before the car fire caused damage to the front window of the house.

The first offender is described as slim and was wearing a cap under a light-coloured hooded top with dark trousers, dark gloves, a dark coloured covering over his face and light-coloured footwear.

The second man was slim and was wearing a light-coloured hooded jacket with dark panels running down each side of the body from the shoulder. He was also wearing light-coloured trousers, dark trainers with fluorescent markings and a dark-coloured face covering.

Detective Constable Ruth Thompson said: “This looks like a planned attack, as the men knew exactly where they were going and were prepared with two jerry cans in order to attack both vehicles.

“The second car was parked very close to the house and could quite easily have caused more damage, or even potential injury as the house was occupied at the time.

“If you have any information as to who may have committed these crimes, or even if you saw these two men, please contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 1707, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.