Investigators worry damage could have been much worse
Aug 12, 2008 - 03:23 PM
AJAX -- Durham Regional Police are seeking help from the public about four fires in a north Ajax neighbourhood that may be linked.
The fires were set between July 13 and 17, and included the deliberate torching of playground equipment in a park on Horne Avenue.
The park fire was the first blaze and it occurred at 4:35 a.m. on July 13. A piece of equipment had to be removed and the damage was set at $60,000. Durham police say a suspect was seen walking away from the scene.
He's described as a teenaged boy, white, 16 years old, riding a bike and wearing a white shirt and black shorts.
At 2:25 a.m. on July 15 on Todd Road, a sofa left at the curb for garbage pick-up was set ablaze.
Three suspects were seen by the couch just before the fire. The first suspect is described as a white teenaged boy, 16 to 18 years of age, blond hair, five-foot nine-inches tall, with a slim build and wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
The second suspect is a white female, about the same age, with shoulder-length auburn or black hair, five-foot six-inches, 140 pounds, wearing a baby blue sweatshirt and blue jeans.
The third suspect is a white female.
The third fire occurred the next day, on July 16 just before 4 a.m., also on Todd Road when a second sofa was set on fire. Police are looking for a white man, 15 to 20 years old, with black spiky hair, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.
The fourth blaze was on July 17, around 5:30 a.m. at the Forest Brook Community Church, on Kearney Drive, when a compost bin was set on fire. No suspects were seen in the area.
Investigators from 19 Division (Ajax-Pickering) say that if not contained, the damage could have been substantial to nearby homes.
Anyone with information about these incidents can call Detective Constable Rob Silipo of the 19 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2531.
Anonymous tips can be made to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
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