Arrest made in wheelie bin arson (From Evesham Journal)

Arrest made in wheelie bin arson

12:30pm Friday 17th February 2012 in News By Elizabeth Sweetman, @lizsweetmanWN #worcsnews

A TEENAGE boy has been released on bail after being arrested in connection with an arson attack in which a wheelie bin was set on fire in two separate incidents.

The incidents both took place outside the same property in Coronation Street, Evesham, on Wednesday and the boy was arrested yesterday evening before being released the same day.

The first fire happened just after midnight but officers were not made aware of the incident until a second fire was reported just before 8pm.

The first fire was discovered when a resident heard a knock on their door and went into the street to find their wheelie bin on fire about eight feet from their property.

The second fire happened in identical circumstances when the same resident heard a knock on the door and went outside to find their bin on fire.

On both occasions the fire was extinguished by the resident and only the bin was damaged.

PC David Howells from Evesham police station said: "Luckily, no people or property - other than the bin - were affected by the fires and I would like to reassure anyone concerned that we do not believe there is any connection with the recent death of Andrew Heath in Worcester.

"However, I would like to say whoever was responsible for the fires in Coronation Street that the fire that killed Mr Heath shows just how dangerous starting bin fires can be and we are treating this as arson, which is a serious offence.

"I would appeal to anyone who was in the Coronation Street area at the time of the offences and either witnessed what happened or saw anything suspicious, to get in touch."

Anyone with information can call police on 0300 333 3000, quoting 195N 150212, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.