The police are investigating a series of arson cases in Los Angeles’ Chinatown.
According to FOX11, early Sunday morning, residents of Chinatown heard a loud bang in the 700 block of North Bunker Hill Avenue.
“It sounded like firecrackers, very frightening,” recalled Sandra Palacios, who lives across the street from where the cars were set on fire.
When Daniel Finnerty stepped outside his house, he witnessed several cars engulfed in flames. He said, “I took a lot of videos, and when I looked up the street, not only the car in front of my house, but another car further up suddenly exploded. It’s insane, definitely not something you expect to see at 5 in the morning.”
In total, four cars were set on fire. The police believe it was a random attack.
Lester Salazar, whose car was destroyed in the fire, said, “I hope they catch these people because randomly setting cars on fire is unfair.” He added, “Something you worked hard for can turn to ashes in a matter of seconds.”
Although the police have not confirmed the identity of the arsonist, residents of Chinatown have their suspicions.
“Unfortunately, there are many homeless people on the streets using dangerous substances,” Finnerty said. “They sleep naked on the sidewalks during the day, cause trouble on the streets at night, but no one is addressing these issues.”
Other residents also noted that their community has changed significantly, and they no longer feel safe.
“Sometimes you wake up early and see homeless people lying beside your car, or drunks and drug users wandering the streets,” said Ashley, who did not want to disclose her last name.
Palacios believes that “the city government needs to take action because the situation is out of control. You can’t even walk your dog or take your kids outside feeling safe anymore.”
In the same community, a fifth car was set on fire a few blocks away. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Los Angeles Police Department.