Van torched outside Hillhouse floor firm depot

Dec 18 2008 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

POLICE were this hunting firebugs who torched a van outside a flooring shop in Hamilton.

Yobs sparked a huge blaze after they smashed a window of a Vauxhall Morano and then hurled an accelerant into the vehicle.

The £2000 van was sitting outside the Flooring Depot in Argyle Crescent, Hillhouse Industrial Estate, when it was set ablaze last Friday between 10pm and 11pm.

The fire spread to the premises of Flooring Depot and caused smoke damage.

The van is owned by Martin McIntosh, director of Flooring Depot.

He told the Advertiser: “I don’t know who did this or anyone who would want to do this to me.

“CID who came out think it may have been vandals.

“My van had been scratched by kids a couple of times before.”

Mr McIntosh found out about the blaze when someone called him and said that his shop was on fire.

He raced to the scene but the Fire Brigade were already there and had the blaze under control.

Mr McIntosh added: “It turned out that it was my van that was on fire and it is a total write-off.”

Mr McIntosh said it is business as usual at the shop.

He added: “The fire spread slightly on to the building and caused only minor surface damage to the premises.

“There was some smoke damage but that cleared the following morning.

“I would urge anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously between 9pm and 11pm that night to contact police.”

Witnesses should contact Hamilton Police Office on 483300 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, where calls are free and anonymity can be maintained.