Arson attack on police CCTV van

POLICE at Warrington are appealing for witnesses following an arson attack which left a police CCTV van badly damaged.
The van was parked in a locked and secured area of Victoria Park, off Knutsford Road and was located there as part of a local police response to recent incidents at the nearby allotments.
Vandals had attacked the allotment and there had been two burglaries in which tools used on the allotments were stolen.
The tools belonged to people with learning disabilities who enjoy tending the allotments and their theft caused some distress.
Fortunately, police enquiries did result in some of the stolen tools being recovered.
Just before midnight on Wednesday, the CCTV van was set alight, causing significant damage. The arsonists could not have known that the vehicle was working remotel, and the potential for serious harm to someone had they been inside at the time was significant.
A police spokeswoman said: “The CCTV van has suffered extensive damage. It will be forensically examined over the next few days and its equipment will be examined to determine whether there is opportunity to recover images the van will have captured prior to the fire being lit, which could lead to the identification of the offenders.”
Police believe the offenders will be local and that other local people will know who they are. They are appealing for information which can be given by calling 0845 458 0000 or using the confidential Crimestoppers line 0800 555 111.