Thornton, NSW: Police hunt for alleged thief after caught on CCTV fleeing crime scene ‘engulfed in flames’
Bizarre CCTV footage shows the moment an alleged thief flees a crime scene after accidentally setting himself on fire.
An alleged thief has been caught on camera fleeing a crime scene in Thornton, north-west of Newcastle, “engulfed in flames”.
Emergency services were called to a business on the New England Highway just after 1am last Tuesday following reports of a fire.
The fire was extinguished, and minimal damage was done to the building; however, large amounts of stock were destroyed and a cash register was stolen.
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The pair can be seen walking in the car park before a fire erupts at the front of the building.
One man emerges from the fire and gets caught in the flames.
“One of the men is seen leaving the area with the lower half of his body engulfed in flames,” a police spokesperson said.
He flees the scene, while still on fire, and gets into a nearby car. The men are believed to have left the area in a light-coloured hatchback.
Police believe the man might have suffered burns following the incident, and are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
In July last year, a similar incident was captured on CCTV when a suspected arsonist accidentally set himself on fire.
Two men firebombed Sheryne Skin in Burwood, in the Inner West of Sydney, after they gained entry and poured accelerant on the floor.
Police released footage of the bungled attack, showing one of the men running down a nearby street with his pants on fire.
At one point, the other man falls on his back after slipping on the accelerator.
In a press conference, Detective Acting Superintendent Luke Scott said, “not only they are a danger to the community, they are obviously a danger to themselves.
“It’s quite clear when you watch this CCTV, we are not dealing with professionals, we are dealing with amateurs.”
The blaze was extinguished and the shop sustained only minor damage. No injuries were reported.
