An alleged arsonist has had to shed their burning pants after seeking to set a Melbourne fast-food business alight on Christmas morning.
Victoria police said emergency services were called to a blaze at a strip of shops off Doncaster Road in Doncaster East at about 2.40am on 25 December.
Police said two people had earlier driven a Toyota Tarago to a fast-food outlet in Melbourne’s east and allegedly poured flammable liquid on the store before trying to set it alight.
“The liquid caught fire, as did the clothing of one of the [alleged] offenders who stripped off their burning garments as they ran back to the Tarago along with the other [alleged] offender who had collected the jerry can,” police said in a statement on Thursday.
CCTV footage of the incident shows one of the alleged offenders walking towards the door, before being obscured by a wall. Within seconds, they are seen leaping back into view with their pants engulfed in flames.
The pair are then seen running off – one with their pants still on fire – before they stop and an attempt is made to take off the flaming garment. The person is then seen running down the street with their burning pants seemingly caught around one ankle.
“The Tarago, which is believed to have been driven by a third [alleged] offender, was last seen headed east on Doncaster Road,” police said.
Detectives from Manningham crime investigation unit released the CCTV vision of “two people they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries”.
