Firebug's victims count cost

By PHIL TAYLOR

Alex Wong says he will be chauffeured to work on Monday in a Mercedes - by a bus driver.

It's the Howick credit controller's way of making light of his experience.

Mr Wong, 40, is one of up to 25 victims of a spate of car arsons in Auckland's eastern suburbs.

Police want the public to report suspicious strangers in their streets, particularly between midnight and 6.30am, when the arsons have occurred.

The first in what police believe is a linked series of car-burnings across east Auckland from Orakei to Botany Downs was on April 22.

The latest was in and around Howick early yesterday. Ten cars were set alight, Mr Wong's among them. A couple exploded in fireballs. Most are beyond repair.

All that might be salvageable of Mr Wong's 10-year-old Honda Civic hatchback are the front tyres.

Mr Wong was alert to crime - the detachable steering wheel lock, though charred, is still in place on the wheel.

Having your car fire-bombed in this quiet part of Auckland which features underground wiring and brick and tile housing is a shock.

"What can you do about it? If your number's up then it's up but it's like terrorism, you don't expect this in New Zealand."

Mr Wong, born and raised in the Howick area, had to take Friday off work, and will have to make other transport arrangements while he waits for the insurance money on his $6000 car. The car is one of 10 crime scenes being closely examined for forensic evidence. ESR has flown in help from Wellington.

Gone, too, will be the insurance no-claims discount but Mr Wong, who has no dependants, expects other owners will be worse off.

"No, no family. No sad story here but it is annoying. There is some loss but it's more the inconvenience."

Andy Stewart's car was one of two burned in Bradbury Rd. He was awake and heard the sound of a car door closing followed by the "pop" of a fire igniting.

But it could have been worse, he says. The back window of a son's car was smashed and the family suspect the arsonist had planned to burn it too.

Police have set up a squad and met Fire Service staff yesterday to discuss how to they might catch the offender.

Common aspects of the crimes are that the cars are parked by the curb, generally on through-streets which offer an easier getaway.

Early on Friday, the arsonist torched two cars on each of Kilkenny Drive, Mirrabooka Ave, Bradbury Rd and Chatsworth Cres, which are in the Howick-Botany Downs area.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Pizzini, who heads the inquiry team, said the arsonist seemed to be breaking a car window and pouring in an accelerant, or throwing in an accelerant-soaked object.

He may have parked nearby, then walked, lighting two or three cars before driving to his next location.

"We need the public to be vigilant for suspicious activity, especially strangers in their street and to dial 111 immediately," Mr Pizzini said.

It may be too late but Alex Wong will be sleeping more lightly.

He slept through the arrival of the fire engine, and was woken by his neighbours who heard the fire ignite and raised the alarm.