Cops launch probe after vehicle is deliberately set on fire
Car torched in street
Detectives are hunting reckless firebugs who torched a car in a quiet street.
The Vauxhall Corsa was le left ef badly damaged after it t was set alight by louts i in Hawthorn Avenue, Joh Johnstone.
Cops probing the blaze, wh which happened at around 2a 2am on Sunday, said ne neighbours raised the alarm.
Emergency crews tackled th the fire and alerted police aft after discovering it had been sta started deliberately.
The six- year- old motor wa was left with extensive da damage, according to inv investigators.
Specialist forensic officers are set to examine the car for clu clues to help identify who was responsible.
Officers a re also trawling CCTV from the area.
Detective Inspector Ian Ross, from Paisley CID, said members of the public could hold the key to identifying the culprits.
He said: “A Vauxhall Corsa car was deliberately set alight in Hawthorn Avenue, Johnstone, at around 2am on Sunday.
“A neighbour spotted the car well alight and alerted the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service who deemed it to be wilful.”
He added: “Detectives are now investigating and we would appeal to anyone who may have saw or heard anything suspicious in the area to come forward to police if they have not already done so.
“We would ask people who may have been driving in and around the area to check dashcam footage to see if you have captured anything which may be useful to our investigation.
“Setting fire to a motor vehicle is incredibly reckless and could have very serious consequences.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue
Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 2am on Sunday to reports of a car on fire at Hawthorn Avenue, Johnstone.
“Operations Control immediately mobilised one appliance to the scene and firefighters extinguished the fire.
“There were no reported casualties and crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.”
In a separate incident, a man has been arrested over claims he was armed with a knife.
Police were called to reports of a disturbance in Dee Place, Johnstone, at around 11.15pm on Friday.
A 28- year- old man was arrested and charged with offensive weapons offences sent to the procurator fiscal.
Express readers with i n f o rmat i o n should phone police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.