Car ‘explodes’, police probe Surf Coast Collision panel beater fire

A car “exploded” minutes after reversing through the roller door of a Torquay panel beater shop in suspicious circumstances being probed by police.

Fire that has damaged a business Beacon Blvd, Torquay. Picture: Brad Fleet

A car “exploded” minutes after reversing through the roller door of a Torquay panel beater shop, neighbours say.

Steve Gatter, whose business Narellan Pools shares a building with SCC, said CCTV had captured the incident at Surf Coast Collision, on Beacon Boulevard, about 2.30am on Monday.

“There were two cars,” he said.

“One reversed straight through the closed shed.

“The other parked in the driveway.”

Mr Gatter said the footage showed “a few people in two cars”.

“They all hopped out of the two cars, but then the one that reversed into the door exploded suddenly and they all jumped back into the other car to escape.

“It all happened within seven or eight minutes.

“We’ve got no idea why it exploded.”

Fire that has damaged a business Beacon Blvd, Torquay. Picture: Brad Fleet

Torquay Sergeant Sim Corin said police were investigating the cause of the suspicious fire.

“This is under investigation as we speak,” Sergeant Corin said.

“No one has been injured and (there are) no suspects at this point in time.

Sergeant Corin said police didn’t know the motive behind the incident or the extent of the damage.

“A car took off with what appears to be some offenders,” she said.

“We just have to try to piece it together.”

Aaron Wendelborn went to the scene of the fire on to see if his car, which was being repaired at SCC, had been damaged.

“The police said there’s a few cars in there that have been damaged, so I’m waiting to see if my car’s OK,” Mr Wendelborn said.

Mr Gatter said firefighters broke into the warehouse of his business about 2.30am to stop flames coming through.

Owner and director of SCC Paul Ellingham said the community had already reached out to show support in the wake of the events.

“Fingers crossed we can get to the bottom of this and find out who did this,” Mr Ellingham said.

He said SCC had celebrated its one year anniversary just last week.

“It’s a brand new business in a growing community, now I’ve got to rebuild from this, and I will,” he said.

“We’re fully insured, I’ll just get back and get back into it.”

It follows a string of similar incidents which occurred in November 2024.

A white Hyundai sedan smashed into the roller door protecting a Norlane shop before being set alight on November 3 2024.

The vehicle appeared to have been set ablaze moments after the smashing into the a security rollerdoor outside the Donnybrook Rd shop.

A week later, a car was driven into the shop and set alight a second time, this time a car penetrating the shop’s interior.

Later that month, a Thomson convenience store Lucky 7 was set on fire in a suspicious blaze - twice.

A Victoria Police spokesman said at the time offenders used an accelerant to light a fire at the front of the premises on Boundary Rd about 3am on November 8.

One week later the same at 4.30am on November 10 the premises was again set alight by unknown offenders.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Car ‘explodes’, police probe Surf Coast Collision panel beater fire