Growing concern
Suspected arson cases mounting in Mount Stewart
The P.E.I. RCMP says it is concerned about a string of suspected arson incidents in Mount Stewart after another building was torched.
A single family dwelling was completely destroyed by fire early Tuesday morning on the corner of Main and Union streets in Mount Stewart.
The provincial fire marshal has been on the scene and has turned the file over to the RCMP for investigation.
This was the second fire within 24 hours in the community. Firefighters were called to a fire in the former Mount Stewart legion building at 3:30 a.m. Monday morning.
Seven homes and businesses have been broken into in Mount Stewart since April and several houses in nearby Cherry Hill have been set ablaze.
Residents are concerned about this rash of crime in their normally quiet rural community. They voiced fears and concerns about the incidents during a recent community meeting.
Police say the community is being monitored for criminal activity, and yet the fires and breakins continue.
“RCMP are very concerned with the heightened activity in the community and are investigating the numerous fire-related crimes that have occurred recently,” the Mounties stated in a news release Tuesday.
Patrols and investigations are underway, but local residents are being urged to come forward to help police with any information they might have about the incidents.
“Recognizing that providing information of this nature is not always easy, especially in smaller communities as we have all across P.E.I., RCMP remind everyone that anyone who has information about this issue that might assist RCMP in this investigation can provide anonymously via P.E.I. Crime Stoppers.”