By Chris Thomson | posted on March 8, 2018
A TOYOTA Landcruiser worth $68,000 was gutted in a suspiciously-lit fire at the Cosy Corner campsite, near Kronkup, in the very early hours of Tuesday morning.
Albany Police Acting Detective Sergeant Chris Macaulay said that after the owners of the silver 2008 (200 series) Landcruiser went to sleep in their caravan in the camping ground, the vehicle’s alarm was activated just after midnight.
“The couple were woken up by the alarm going off, and the female had got out of the caravan and located her car on fire,” he said.
“The partner’s come out and they’ve tried to extinguish the vehicle but it’s basically overwhelmed them, and they’ve then called the fire brigade.
Acting Det Sgt Macaulay said the couple had been looking after the campsite for the past month, which on Monday night was housing quite a few campers.
He said the $68,000 4WD was completely destroyed, and the couple’s Regal Commander caravan valued at $120,000 was also significantly damaged.
“They’re very lucky, to be honest,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for the car alarm being activated, it could have been a different story for them.”
He said a full jerrycan that was sitting near the Landcruiser, and scrub around the campsite, escaped the flames.
The overall value of damage at the campsite is yet to be determined, but police believe it may be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Local volunteer firefighters extinguished the blaze, and Albany police, detectives and forensic officers attended the campsite to investigate.
Acting Det Sgt Macaulay said police believed the fire had been deliberately lit.
Detectives are seeking information about vehicles that may have been moving around the Cosy Corner and Lower Denmark Roads between 11pm and 1am.
Anyone with relevant information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
