Video released in hunt for firebugs who targeted Richmond Hill businesses in same plaza
Article content
Arsonists who set fire to two businesses in the same Richmond Hill plaza in two separate instances over the long weekend are being sought by police.
York Regional Police released surveillance video showing two firebugs breaking into two businesses at Times Square, located at Highway 7 and Leslie St., in the early hours of Sunday and Monday.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Video released in hunt for firebugs who targeted Richmond Hill businesses in same plaza Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
In the first instance, which happened at about 3:45 a.m. Sunday, police said they received a call reporting smoke coming from the building. Richmond Hill Fire and Emergency Services were already at the scene when officers arrived.
Surveillance video showed two people carrying jugs of flammable liquid walking through the parking lot of the plaza. They’re seen breaking a window of what appears to be an eatery, pouring the liquid from the jugs on the furniture, floors and a partition in the business.
As they leave through the shattered window, one lights a fire and the eatery is seen engulfed in flames.
“The suspects were last seen running north through the parking lot to Wertheim Court. One of the suspects may have sustained burns to his hand,” police said in a press release. Police believe they fled in a white four-door vehicle.
The next day, another business in the same plaza was set on fire at around 4:55 a.m.
The fire left “significant damage” to the business and surrounding units, police said.
Surveillance footage released by police showed two people dressed in dark clothing walk through a door carrying jugs of liquid from what appears to be a stairwell with their faces covered and not visible to the camera. They’re seen fleeing with the jugs emptied from a second set of doors as smoke billows from the opened door.
Police said the pair were seen running toward Wertheim Court.
Investigators said the two fires may be connected.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
tap here to see other videos from our team.
The businesses targeted were identified by Richmond Hill Councillor Michael Shiu as the Richmond Court Restaurant and Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, YorkRegion.com reported.
“The Richmond Court Restaurant fell victim to this act (the first night) and the following night, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Restaurant on the second floor was intentionally set ablaze,” the outlet reported Shiu as telling a committee meeting on Wednesday. “I am actively collaborating with the impacted businesses and the entire shopping mall to offer support.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7241, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.