Car set alight in affluent Jan Juc driveway

A vehicle has been destroyed by fire in the driveway of a Jan Juc house, in the third suspicious car fire in the region this week.

A car destroyed by fire in the driveway of a Jan Juc house in Marner Close. Picture: Alison Wynd

A vehicle has been destroyed by fire in the driveway of a Jan Juc house, in the third suspicious car fire in the region this week.

A Country Fire Authority (CFA) spokesman said crews were called to the car fire on Marner Close at 2.37am on Thursday, with three trucks on scene.

“The incident was brought under control at 2.51am and declared safe at 3.14am,” the spokesman said.

He said the scene was handed to Victoria Police due to suspicious circumstances.

A neighbour said he was woken at 2.30am by the noise.

“I’m next door and there was two trucks and two cop cars,” he said.

“Flames were 1.5m above the car and I was worried the house would catch on fire.”

He said the house used to be an AirBnB, but was now home to two retirees.

“Two weeks ago someone threw stones and broke the house window,” he said.

A car destroyed by fire in the driveway of a Jan Juc house in Marner Close. Picture: Alison Wynd

It comes after a car fire in a residential driveway on Reigate Rd in Highton about 11.50pm on Tuesday night.

Police were called to Reigate Rd after a ute on the leafy suburban street was allegedly doused with petrol before being set alight in an apparent arson attack.

It’s understood two men were seen fleeing from the scene holding a jerry can.

The fire also spread to a neighbouring vehicle in the driveway and two nearby bins.

One neighbour said they were woken up by car alarms at the property, and heard footsteps running from the scene.

The remains of two burnt cars in the driveway of a Reigate Rd Highton property. Picture: Alison Wynd

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said Geelong Crime Investigation Unit detectives were investigating the exact circumstances of the incident.

On Tuesday morning, another suspicious car fire was reported in Leopold, with the vehicle found burnt out on Bawtree Rd after being allegedly stolen from an Ocean Grove address.

Originally published as Car set alight in affluent Jan Juc driveway