Alleged arsonist caught on video setting trash fires on Manhattan streets

Police are looking for a firebug they say lit trash on fire, which then spread to parked vehicles in two separate incidents in Manhattan last week.

The first incident took place on May 5 at about 3:50 a.m. when the suspect set fire to garbage in front of 1516 Lexington Ave., according to authorities. The blaze then spread to a parked Mitsubishi before being extinguished.

A few days later on May 9 at about 11:35 p.m., the same man lit trash on fire in front of 4940 Madison Ave., police said. The fire once again spread, this time to a parked Ford.

The NYPD has released surveillance video of one of the incidents and describe the suspect as a man with medium complexion.

Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.