Owner ‘numb’ after lorry destroyed in fire attack

Police probe launched after vehicle targeted by man dressed in black

A Fife businessman has been left £32,000 out of pocket after his recovery truck was deliberately targeted with a Molotov cocktail.

Bob Coote discovered a vandal had set the lorry on fire using a petrol bomb as it sat in the yard of his Leven garage last Friday.

The 69-year-old was left “numb” after discovering the vehicle’s burnt-out shell and is offering a substantial reward for any information that can help trace the fire-raiser responsible.

Mr Coote, who has owned Bolts Garage for 29 years, said: “At approximately 3am, the truck was purposely set fire to.

“They put a jar of petrol under the door with a bit of rag on it.

“It wasn’t just a wee rag they’ve set on fire, it was a jar of petrol so they’ve done it on purpose — it can’t have been an accident.

“They were picked up on CCTV running away from the truck and then later on Riverside Road. You can’t tell who they are because they were hooded up. It was one guy, dressed all in black. The police came down and interviewed us, asking if we had upset anybody, but we haven’t.

“Whoever has done this has come out of their way to do the truck.

“I was the first person in on Friday morning and I parked out on the road and walked into the yard and saw the burnt-out truck.

“I was just numb the whole day.” A second smaller truck, parked alongside the destroyed vehicle, was slightly damaged.

Mr Coote added: “It’s a vehicle recovery truck with a value of around £32,000 when we bought it.

“It wasn’t just an old rusty lorry or anything.

“It was all purpose-built and we were doing work on it at the time so it had a SORN notice and wasn’t insured.

“We have two trucks in the fleet and the other one is a little bit damaged too but the big one is completely gutted.

“There were a lot of customers’ cars out there at the time as well and I’m so glad the fire didn’t spread to the other vehicles.

“I would offer a substantial reward for anybody that can help us with finding the person who did this to us.

“I would also like to ask that person why they did it.

“In the area, we’ve had wheelie bins going up in fire all the time. Two other cars in Leven were also done on the same night as my truck and a car in Buckhaven.”

The police have launched a probe into the deliberate fire and are appealing for witnesses.

A spokeswoman said: “Police in Fife are investigating following a report of a fire in Leven.

“The incident happened at around 3am on Friday 12 October at a business premises in the Bridge Street area when a vehicle was deliberately set alight.

“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the flames.

“Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 0328 of 12 October, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

I would offer a substantial reward for anybody that can help us with finding the person who did this to us

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. Businessman Bob Coote beside the burned-out remains of his recovery vehicle at his Leven garage.