Homes Evacuated as Arson Attack Destroys Vehicle in Car Park

Published on: 2 Jul, 2012
Updated on: 2 Jul, 2012

Four people were taken to the hospital and homes were evacuated following a blaze in a underground car park in Guildford in the early hours of Tuesday (July 2) in which a car was destroyed.

The burnt-out VW Golf in the car park under the Dapdune Court flats off Woodbridge Road, Guildford.

Firefighters and the police were called to the private car park underneath Dapdune Court, off Woodbridge Road, just after 12.30am. The rear window of a red VW Golf had been smashed and the seat of the fire was in the back of the vehicle. Due to its close proximity to homes, occupants of several flats above the car park were evacuated to Guildford police station. Those who went to the Royal Surrey County Hospital were taken there were suffering smoke inhalation. Others were given oxygen at the police station.

Now the police are appealing for information following the attack that is being treated as arson. The fire spread to a nearby electricity power box causing damage to the utility’s equipment.

Detective Inspector Andy Haslam said: “This was a deliberate act in which a vehicle was destroyed and an essential electricity power box seriously damaged as a result of mindless vandalism.

The entrance to the car park underneath the Dapdune Court flats is accessed via Leas Road.

“It is extremely concerning that this incident could potentially have led to much greater harm to people and property due to the location with domestic properties above the scene. As it was, some residents had to leave their homes in the middle of the night and some had to be taken to hospital.

“Surrey Police cannot allow this type of criminality which puts the community at risk and I urge anyone who may have seen anything or anyone acting suspiciously in the area around the time of the incident to call police as a matter of urgency.”

If you have any information which could help Surrey Police locate and bring this offender to justice call 101, quoting reference GD/12/5888. Alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymnously on 0800 555 111.