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Warning to gang setting fires close to homes

Cleveland Police A badly damaged fence after an arson attack. There is a lot of smoke still and the trees are singed from the flames. A firefight can be seen at the side on a ladder behind a tree. Cleveland Police
Police believe the same gang carried out a spate of arson attacks damaging fences and narrowly missing houses

Police have warned anyone involved in a recent spate of fires will face the consequences after damaging fences and narrowly missing a barbecue gas canister in a garden.

Cleveland Police said residents of Sunnyside in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, reported a gang setting fire to fences and bushes just before 18:00 BST on Friday.

Other fires near Hollowfield were also reported and are believed to have been started by the same people.

Sgt Chris Swales, of the Cleveland force, said the fires also narrowly missed damaging houses and condemned those responsible for their "stupid and dangerous" behaviour.

He said: "One of the fires narrowly missed igniting a gas bottle from a barbecue in one of the gardens, which would have exploded and caused much more damage and potentially could have injured people in those houses.

"Lighting fires in bushes is a stupid and dangerous thing to do and someone could get hurt.

"This is criminal behaviour and it will not be tolerated. We will find out who you are and you will face the consequences."

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