Caught on camera: Hobbling arsonist targets Wolverhampton firm
These dramatic images show the moment a hobbling arsonist set fire to a letting agents in Wolverhampton - before running back to retrieve his walking stick from the flames.
CCTV footage shows the man limping towards Landlords Sales & Lettings with the aid of a walking stick and pouring fuel onto the building before the entrance goes up in flames.
The man then hobbles away from the scene, but turns around to fetch his stick before leaving Newhampton Road East, in Whitmore Reans, in the direction of Waterloo Road.
Owner Mohammed Aftab is now appealing for anyone who recognises the man, or knows anything about the blaze, to help police with their investigation.
He said: "This is a very bad thing because the people living upstairs have a three-month-old kid, so it could have been much worse.
"We want to know the motivation, why they were willing to burn the place and risk other people's lives."
Neighbours, including members of the family living above the business, are then seen rushing to extinguish the flames using buckets of water as the fire takes hold and smoke billows from the premises.
Drivers passing by also stopped to help and called the fire service, Mr Aftab said.
Thanks to their efforts, no major damage was caused and no one was injured.
However, glass at the side of the building was shattered, the front door and signs were burned and the interior was left smoke-damaged.
Mr Aftab said: "We were lucky that the neighbours saw it and put the fire out. Otherwise the building would have gone off.
"It is not a massive amount of damage because it was controlled by neighbours, but it could have been much worse."
He added: "It is not going to shut the business or anything.
"We will carry on, but we have been shattered by this."
Firefighters were called to the scene at around 9.45pm on Tuesday.
Police are now treating the incident as arson and say they are pursuing several lines of inquiry.
Officers want to trace the man in the CCTV images to help them with their investigation.
He is described as having shoulder length hair and was wearing a brown jacket and jeans and using a walking stick.
Anyone with information should call 101.
