Arson Suspected In Novato Car Dealership Fire, Surveillance Video Shows Possible Suspect
NOVATO (CBS SF) -- Several cars went up in flames at a Chevy dealership in Novato Monday night, leading police to believe it's the work of an arsonist who was caught on surveillance footage.
Carrying a flashlight in his right hand, and what looks like an accelerant in his left, the man in the video appears to know exactly where he's going and what he's wants.
He picks up something white before he walks back toward the row of Chevrolet Volts.
It only takes about twenty seconds for the first car to go up in flames.
"The rag, or whatever that he had caught on fire very rapidly; it wasn't just you know somebody just trying to put newspaper on fire type of thing. You can see him put something underneath the vehicle. You can see a big flame underneath the vehicle then you can see the car catching on fire," Novato Chevrolet Owner Steve Song said.
Song is now looking at more than $100,000 in damages.
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"It's pretty brutal for somebody to light a car on fire. because it's a waste," Chevrolet Parts Manager Peter Chin said.
Four cars were burned.
Song says the arsonist took off on a bike.
"Hopefully it's an isolated incident, and hopefully it's something that we can stop and we catch the guy that did it."
The criminal investigation is ongoing and police are asking the public for help.