£2,000 reward to find car arsonists

A CAR company boss has offered a £2,000 reward in a bid to find the arsonists and vandals who heaped £7,000 of misery on him by striking twice inside a week.

Three cars went up in flames in the first attack, and a further eight were sprayed with paint stripper six days later.

Steve Purcell, owner of SPC Motor Company in Mexborough, branded the culprits “scum”.

He added: “It’s not just because it’s my business that’s been hit. This could have been really dangerous or killed someone.

“There’s a petrol station right next door which could have gone up. And the houses nearby had to be evacuated while the firefighters put the fires out.”

Crews from Mexborough and Brampton spent about an hour tacking the flames.

It is thought the fire was started on one car and then spread to the others, causing £5,000 damage.

Last Thursday (22), vandals caused a further £2,000 damage to cars at the Doncaster Road garage.

Steve (38) said: “We’ve never had an ounce of bother before all this.

“It’s been even more frustrating because the business has been doing really well lately. We’re selling up to 40 cars a month.”

Steve is so keen to see the vandals brought to justice that he has put up a £2,000 reward for information, payable upon a successful conviction. If you can help, call 07930 409585.

Anyone with useful information is asked to contact South Yorkshire Police on 01142 202020.