Preston man charged over Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo tobacco shop fire

A 25-year-old man from Preston will face court over a fire that engulfed a tobacco shop more than 100km away in Bendigo.

A 25-year-old Preston man has been charged over a fire at a Bendigo tobacco store on Monday morning.

Emergency services were called to the Hargreaves Mall about 4.30am, where a fire had engulfed a tobacconist.

The fire — which caused $4m in damage — is being treated as suspicious, but investigators have ruled out links to a spate of recent arson attacks in Victoria.

A suspicious fire broke out in Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo in the early hours of Monday morning.

There was no one inside the building when the fire began.

Matthew Anderson, manager of the tattoo studio Pagan Lore next to the tobacconist said their business had been damaged by the fire, leaving seven tattoo artists wondering where they would go.

“It’s a somber morning ... it’s going to be a few hours before we can actually find out the internal damage,” he said.

“Definitely a blow this morning.”

Investigators are appealing for anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area or with information to come forward.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or with dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The Preston man has been remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.