Police search for serial car-sonist

HUNTINGTON, Ind. (WANE) - Huntington police are looking for one or more suspects who set multiple parked cars on fire.  Five vehicles and one boat went up in flames from August 10 to August 27.

Suspects are targeting cars in Huntington near General Slack Park.  Most of the incidents have happened between Guilford Street and Byron Street.

In the middle of the night, the suspects walk up to unlocked cars, open them, and set the inside on fire.  On one occasion, the person or people involved placed newspapers on top of one vehicle, set them on fire, and burned a hole in the top of the vehicle.

An SUV that fell victim to the flames sat at Pearson's Body Shop in Huntington.  The front seats were charred, the dash was burned, and windows were full of soot.

"We have had where the flames have done extensive damage to the cars and where the fire has basically smothered itself out," said Huntington Fire Chief Matt Armstrong.

Armstrong explained incidents could have been prevented by a simple safety precaution.

"The cars have been left unlocked," said Armstrong.  "We want to stress to people that they need to keep their cars locked so stuff like this can't happen."

Huntington Police Chief Tom Emely said there aren't any solid leads on the suspects, but the department has received some information.

"It could be kids maybe as a prank but it's certainly causing a lot of property damage to peoples' vehicles," said Emely.

If you have any information on the suspects, you're asked to call the Huntington Police Department at (260) 356-2520.