For Immediate Release

Friday, Oct. 14, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

*UPDATE* Authorities Seek Public’s Help in Tyngsborough Arson Spree

TYNGSBOROUGH — State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, Police Chief Richard Howe and Fire Chief Timothy J. Madden are asking for the public’s help as they continue to investigate a series of motor vehicle fires that occurred last weekend.

On Saturday, Oct. 8, Tyngsborough Police received calls for the following vehicle fires:

• At approximately 2:26 a.m., police received a report of two scooters on fire in the driveway of a residence on King David Road. As a result of the fire, the two scooters and two vehicles were damaged.
• At approximately 2:32 a.m., police received a call reporting a vehicle on fire in the driveway of a residence on Bowers Avenue. Two vehicles were damaged.
• At approximately 2:41 a.m., police received a call for a vehicle fire in the driveway of a residence on Chester Avenue. The vehicle and residence were damaged due to the fire.
• At approximately 3:05 a.m., police received a call for multiple vehicles on fire in the driveway of two different residences on Mascuppic Trail. As a result of the fire, three vehicles were damaged.

Additionally, a motor vehicle fire was reported on Althea Street on Friday, Oct. 7, at approximately 10:45 a.m. Officials believe this incident is connected to the spree that occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A total of 11 vehicles and one home were damaged due to the fires.

Anyone with information about these fires is asked to call the Arson Hotline at 1-800-682-9229. All calls are confidential. The Arson Hotline is part of the Arson Watch Reward Program that provides rewards of UP TO $5,000 for information that helps to solve the crime of arson. The program is funded by the property and casualty insurance underwriting companies of Massachusetts.

These incidents are being actively investigated by the Tyngsborough Police and Fire Departments, and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

“The perpetrators of this act will be found and held responsible,” Chief Howe said. “They not only intentionally destroyed the property of law abiding Tyngsborough residents, but also endangered community members, as their actions could have caused a much more serious fire.”

Anyone with information about any of these incidents can also call the Tyngsborough Police Department at 978-649-7504 and press 9 for the anonymous tip line, or ask for Detective Sgt. Cindy Shay.

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