RICHMOND, Va. -- Richmond Police and Fire investigators are investigating four fires set along West Broad and West Grace streets in recent months as arson.
Since April, fire investigators have responded to four suspicious fires in the 2700 blocks of West Broad and West Grace streets.
The first incident happened around 9:50 p.m. on April 3, inside of a vacant apartment in the 2700 block of West Grace Street.
“According to tenants, the building has a lot of foot traffic and investigators encourage anyone who recalls seeing anything suspicious that night to contact police,” police and fire officials said in a press release.
The second incident happened in the early morning hours of July 14.
Investigators say a mattress in the rear of Chapman’s Certified Auto Repair, located at 2727 West Broad Street, was set on fire. As the mattress burned, the fire crept up the building and into the roof area.
The last two fires were set on the mornings of August 23 and August 24 respectively.
On August 23, a vehicle was set on fire around 5 a.m. in the parking lot of Chapman’s Certified Auto Service, located at 2727 West Broad Street.
The fire spread to four vehicles in the parking lot.
The next day, just before 6 a.m., a vehicle was set on fire at in the rear parking lot of an apartment building in the 2700 block of West Grace Street.
All four cases remain under investigation and could be the work of an arsonist.
Anyone with any information about any of these incidents is asked to call Detective Sergeant Angela Smith at (804) 646-5034 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000. Citizens can also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip or submit a tip online at http://www.7801000.com.
