Blazes at Black Country scrapyards could be linked, say investigators
Investigators say a blaze at a scrapyard may be linked to a previous spate of fires at other yards in the Black Country.
The yard on Lath Lane, Smethwick, was hit in a suspected attack for the second time on Monday night, destroying six cars.
The yard previously had 70 cars wrecked in an attack on May 23.
Police have said they are keeping an open mind as to whether the two fires are linked, as well as to the possibility that they could be linked to three other fires in May.
On Friday, May 24, 50 cars were destroyed at a yard on Roebuck Lane in Smethwick, and three days earlier around 180 cars were wrecked in two separate attacks in Bilston and Cradley.
On Monday two fire crews from Smethwick and West Bromwich were quickly on the scene just before midnight after being alerted by a passing police car.
They were able to contain the blaze to just the six cars.
West Midlands Police spokesman Lee Page said: "It is still early days, but whether or not it is linked we don't know, we are keeping an open mind as to whether they are linked."
Police previously released a CCTV image of three men entering the yard at Saltbrook Motors, which is based in Saltbrook Road, in Cradley, before the fire there on Tuesday, May 21. They are still searching for the men.
