Firebug fear burns into Addington life

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34099, 11 March 1976, Page 1

Firebug fear burns into Addington life

By

PETER COMER)

here will the Addington arsonist strike next? This is the question being asked bv worried residents in the area.

\ tense atmosphere pervaded the j suburb of Addington yesterday as ! householders voiced concern for the safety of their property—and their ' lives. I

The elusive tirebug; suspected of causing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of dam-[ age in the area since last August struck again on Tuesday night. He sneaked past security i patrols of his favourite haunt; —the Addington Show[ Grounds—to light a fire in a; stable. Only minor damage was caused, but it was the seventeenth suspicious fire in the area since last August, and the twelfth at the show grounds. Other fires Now the wail of a fire siren strikes fear into Addington residents — especially the elderly. “We get jittery every time we hear a siren,” said Mr Nick Armstrong, the assistant caretaker at the Addington Motor Camp. “When visitors arrive and, hear about this business they' wonder if it is safe to stay,” he said. So far the firebug has concentrated mainly on unoccupied buildings at the show grounds. But there have also been suspicious fires in residential areas, and residents believe that lives will be lost unless he is caught soon. Some householders have i even organised a vigilante, system, whereby residents

< .keep watch on each other’s'‘ 'homes. s | The activities of the arsonlist were the prime topic of t 'discussion among neighboursU and over the counters of local; ! shops yesterday, and specu-|: Uation was rife about hish i identitv. Many believe that he may ' 7 be a patient at nearby Sunny-1' ■[side Hospital, and this possi-p lability is being investigated) i by the police. ; j Others are looking sus.j piciously at neighbours who, > they think, might hold a [ grudge against people in the - area. ; “He must live in Addington, and that is what worries us,” said Mr J. H. Martin, ; whose house borders the i '(show grounds. I J j “The way he has been able ' f it.o give them the slip means I ; Jhe knows his way around.”! J On Tuesday night the! arsonist was chased by a 'lsecurity man, but managed to; I elude his pursuer among the) ,; houses at the back of the 1 [ grounds. > i Some dues

Mr B. Delmonte, who owns ’ a dairy across Lincoln Road ! from the arsonist’s main stamping ground, is worried 1 about the many elderly, 1 retired couples who live in : old wooden houses in the; > area. “Their houses would go up! bin a flash.” he said. “They !, wouldn’t have a hope of' ; getting out.”

One elderly pensioner who lives on her own near the) show grounds admitted yes-i terday that she had “not slept' much” since the firebug) stepped up his activities. “I know the police are I doing all they can,” she said,! “but I hope they catch him' soon.” Young people who live tnl the streets around the show! grounds are also worried. I “My husband works night' Ishift and 1 have got three! [children to look after,” said 'Mrs Graeme White. “I’m [scared stiff every rime I hear a siren, wondering if it is [going to be our place next.” j Extensive inquiries by a [squad of detectives over the [last month have failed to trace the arsonist, but Tuesday evening’s fire brought residents in the area to the aid of the police. “We have had information which could be of assistance, and we are following some promising leads.” said the officer in charge of the investigation (Detective [Sergeant J. Crookston).