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Crime

15th Jan 2025

Attempted arsonist sets own trousers on fire and runs down street with bare bum out

Zoe Hodges

I don’t think that was part of his plan

A suspected arsonist in Australia was caught on CCTV mistakenly setting his own trousers on fire as he attempted to set alight a fast-food outlet in Melbourne.

Emergency services rushed to a strip of shops in Doncaster East, 20km east of Melbourne’s CBD, at 2.40am on December 25 following reports of a fire. 

Police said two people drove to the shops on Doncaster Road in a white Toyota Tarago before they approached the outlet with a jerry can. 

Australian police released the footage as part of a public appeal to identify the two disguised offenders responsible for the targeted arson attack. 

It shows two suspected arsonists with the jerry can on the ground.

One of the suspects approaches the front of the building, crouching down they light the fuel before quickly leaping backwards with the whole of their trousers aflame.

The suspect runs away, desperately trying to put out the flames. The second suspect picks up the jerry can and runs after the first.

Another security camera picks up the pair as they come into shot near a cash machine where the first attempts to take the burning trousers off.

Panicked, the trousers get stuck round their ankle and they continue to run, dragging the burning garment behind them as they do so.

The second suspect attempts to help by stamping on the burning clothes but it does little to extinguish the fire.

“The Tarago, which is believed to have been driven by a third offender, was last seen headed east on Doncaster Road,” police said in a statement. 

“Investigators have released CCTV and images of two people they believe may be able to assist with their enquires.”

Topics:

arson,Australia