Police want to speak to three male teens seen on e-scooters around the time a blaze burnt a car and building at a John Hughes dealership in Wangara, causing $50,000 in damage.
Authorities were alerted to a blaze at the car dealership on Prindiville Drive, near Berriman Drive, about 6.30pm on New Year’s Day.
The fire damaged a brick service building and a Suzuki Swift on display before being extinguished.
John Hughes Used Cars Wangara sales manager Gary Hill told PerthNow the vehicle belonged to the dealership and was worth about $20,000.
Mr Hill said he started at the dealership on Tuesday, with the regular manager attending the blaze on Monday night before heading on holiday.
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“On the Tuesday morning I got sent a message from Brad, who’s usually the manager here but now on holidays, saying ‘there was a drama here, they’ve broken in, started a fire and a car got burnt’,” Mr Hill said.
“It was a car that was parked under the undercroft close to the building that got set on fire and was destroyed.”
Mr Hill said the building was abandoned and not in use and believed the perpetrators broke in there before the fire started.
John Hughes has been at the Wangara site for two years and Mr Hill said vandals had been a constant nuisance.
“There’s always damage or vandalism in Wangara at the yards; we cop it all the time just because it’s so quiet at night,” he said.
“There’s no passing traffic so it’s just empty here.
“People stealing spotlights, wheels or roof racks — it’s constant.”
Mr Hill said the area was still taped off on Wednesday but it had not affected business.
Images of the fire showed flames in the car yard, metres away from the entrance of the Up in Smoke Wangara store which sells smoking products, including vapes.
Crews from at least three fire trucks worked to douse the inferno.
The arson squad and at least five police officers were at the scene in the wake of the fire as they examined the scorched structure.
WA Police said arson squad investigators held a fire scene examination on Tuesday.
Two of the male teenagers police are looking for were traveling on e-scooters.
Police believe the teenagers may have information that can assist with their investigation into the fire.
The cause of the fire is being treated as suspicious at this time and detectives urge anyone with information relating to this fire to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestopperswa.com.au