‘Absolute muppets’: Alleged arsonists caught on camera before Prahran store went up in flames
A group of masked offenders have been caught on video stumbling their way into a getaway vehicle with a jerry can after trying to set a Prahan store on fire.
Victoria
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A group of masked offenders have been labelled “muppets” as they bumbled their way out of a ram raid and alleged arson attack in Melbourne’s south this morning.
Dressed head to toe in black clothing, the men were caught on film leaving the scene along Commercial Rd in Prahran at about 5.40am.
Footage taken from onlookers nearby shows a white Hyundai i30 attempting to perform a U-turn outside what appears to be a vacant shop front.
At least two men then load themselves into the car, with one of the assailants brandishing a small jerry can, which he throws to the ground before getting in the back seat.
The same man proceeds to pick get out of the car to pick the jerry can back up before the group flees westbound along Commercial Rd.
The footage shows extensive damage done to the glass panel at the front of the shop and a small fire at the base of the front door.
In a post shared to social media, one onlooker called out the offenders for attempting to smash through the building in the daylight.
“If you’re going to light a shop on fire don’t get caught on camera doing it you absolute muppets,” the caption read.
Further CCTV footage of the offenders shows the small hatchback reversing into the building twice before masked men ran inside.
The desolate ground floor of the building had recently undergone a series of renovations and has been vacant for several years.
Footage from inside the building shows two offends running down the length of the building pouring accelerant on the floors and walls.
Before the pair left the building, they are seen igniting a pool of accelerant at the front door.
Despite the fool-proof plan, fire damage to the building was minimal, with little to no scorch marks seen inside the property.
Police remained at the scene throughout the morning as they waited for arson investigators to comb the scene.
Passers-by have stopped to look at the extensive damage done to the glass panelling at the front of the building.
The scene remains cordoned off by police.
Emergency services were able to respond to the scene quickly, extinguishing the blaze at about 5.50am, with no one reported to be inside the building at the time.
Police believe a pair of offenders had attempted to smash through the front window of the building before setting the business on fire.
A Victoria Police spokesman said: “despite a thorough search of the area, police were unable to locate the vehicle or the offenders.”
Lunar Taskforce members, currently investigating the ongoing tobacco war, are not investigating at this stage.
Originally published as ‘Absolute muppets’: Alleged arsonists caught on camera before Prahran store went up in flames