Police believe a serial arsonist struck again early Sunday morning in Queens.
A fire broke out at a home that was under construction on 69th Road near the Grand Central Parkway. It was the second time the home has gone up in flames in recent weeks, and it’s the seventh suspicious fire in Forest Hills since October.
Police have released a photo of a person of interest (and is attached in this article). The photo shows a man on a motorcycle with glasses, a green helmet and a scarf. Witnesses told police they saw the man on the motorcycle speed away from the scene seconds after the fire started.
Seven sites in the neighborhood, all within walking distance from one another, have been intentionally set on fire in the last month and a half, investigators say. Investigators say all of the crimes are linked.
Neighbors said they are so fed up they’re going to have an emergency meeting at 9:00AM Sunday at the Jewish Community Center.
Detectives are also looking closely at surveillance video of the suspect at the site of an arson fire the night before Thanksgiving.
Some of the previous fire locations have been:
Incident #1 – At approximately 9:30AM on Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 68-60 112 Street.
Incident #2 – At approximately 10:100PM on Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 112-35 69 Road.
Incident #3 – At approximately 6:30PM on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 108-49 66 Avenue.
Incident #4 – At approximately 11:12PM on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at 108-47 67 Drive.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers’ website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
(YWN Desk – NYC)