The burnt cars at the Matheson Road home, Applecross.
Camera IconThe burnt cars at the Matheson Road home, Applecross. Credit: Supplied/Matt Jelonek d477462

Applecross car fires: arson squad says luxury BMW deliberately torched

Matt ZisMelville Gazette

ARSON squad detectives say a luxury BMW sedan torched in an Applecross driveway overnight appears to have been deliberately targeted – but they don’t know why and are appealing for more information about the crime.

The BMW and two other cars parked in the Matheson Road driveway were destroyed in the attack, which happened about 11pm on Thursday.

“The owner of the BMW had returned home and left his car on the driveway and around half an hour later he was alerted to the sound of a bang and found his vehicle on fire,” Arson Squad Detective Senior Constable Mark Pollock said.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Fire spread very quickly to two other family-owned cars in the driveway, a Chrysler sedan and a Hyundai i20, with residents inside the two-storey Matheson Road home unable to do anything to save the cars.

Investigators will continue their examination of the vehicles today and did not rule out that a petrol bomb may have been used to spark the fire.

Det Sen Constable Pollock said witnesses had provided vague descriptions of a number of people in dark clothes and a light-coloured sedan that sped from the scene.

He urged people with further information or CCTV footage that may show suspicious activity in the area around the time to contact police.

While the damage bill for the destroyed cars was estimated to be about $100,000, Det Sen Constable Pollock said the family was extremely fortunate the situation was not worse.

“Although we’re dealing with three vehicle fires we’ve got trees nearby, the garage, the house, this could easily and very quickly have spread into the house and then people are in danger,” he said.

It’s believed the i20 was the only uninsured vehicle.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

MORE: Fatal Canning Vale brawl: person arrested

MORE: Midland Police CBD team named best in the state following WA Police Excellence Awards

MORE: Police officer dies on duty after motorcycle crash

MORE: Perth weather: summer sun, something’s begun