Yobs destroy vehicle

Police appeal after car left burnt out in city park

POLICE are appealing for information after a car was deliberately set on fire.

The four-door hatchback was completely destroyed by the blaze at Caird Park, which is thought to have been started by a group of youths.

Efforts are now under way to trace the owner of the vehicle.

A wheelie bin was also set alight nearby.

Katie Harper, 31, a resident who lives nearby, said: “I heard a car alarm going off — it was really annoying so I looked out of my window.

“I saw the car on fire and my wheelie bin on top of it — it was well alight but I couldn’t see anyone around.”

Katie said she thought she had heard her bin being removed by the culprits earlier in the evening.

She said: “It happens all the time but I was alone with my kids so I didn’t go out to confront them.”

The fire service attended and extinguished the blaze — but just a couple of hours later the yobs were back.

Katie said: “It looked as though there were about six youths jumping on top of the car.”

Strathmartine councillor Stewart Hunter said it was disappointing to hear about such incidents.

He said: “The community tends to be very good about coming forward with information and I would urge people to do that.

“It is a proactive community and I am sure people will be as disappointed as me to see this senseless vandalism.

“I intend to have a conversation with the police to see what we can do to tackle this kind of incident and stop it happening again in the future.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “One appliance attended from Macalpine Road on Thursday November 17.

“The vehicle was well alight when officers attended at 7.20pm.

“One hose reel jet was used to extinguish the blaze.”

Police Scotland confirmed officers had attended the scene and appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to get in touch.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “We are still making inquiries to trace the owner of the vehicle to establish the full circumstances.”

The car was completely destroyed in the blaze at Caird Park.