Car stolen from Richmond set on fire, hits house in Glenorchy

A GREAT ball of fire hurtled down a Glenorchy street before ploughing into the front of a house.

The stolen ute was dumped and then torched. It rolled down the hill and crashed into the front of a house. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

A GREAT ball of fire hurtled down a Glenorchy street before ploughing into the front of a house.

The fire was actually a flame-engulfed ute which rolled 80m down the steep hill after its brakes began melting after the vehicle was set alight.

The stolen ute, which had no one behind the wheel, jumped a fence on Brent St and hit the house at speed, collapsing a brick wall and leaving the property structurally unsound.

The ute, which police believe was deliberately set on fire, came to rest in the front room of the house.

The incident occurred just before 4.30am.

The home’s occupant and neighbours rushed to douse the flames fearing somebody may have been trapped in the burning ute.

“At the time we were all saying ‘do you think anyone is in it’ because it was on fire and there was not much we could do,” a neighbour who woke to a loud bang told the Mercury.

“It was a bit of a shock to see.”

Damage to the house is estimated to be at least $20,000.

Nobody was injured in the drama.

The vehicle, a 2005 silver Mazda ute, was stolen between 7pm and 11.30pm on Sunday from Bathurst St Richmond, police said.

It was completely destroyed by the fire.

“The quick action of the firefighters from the Tasmania Fire Service resulted in the vehicle fire being extinguished and further damage to the house prevented,” Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Coad said.

A red and white Yamaha TT600 motorcycle was stolen from the front yard of a nearby Brent St residence. Police later recovered the motorcycle in Dewdrop Court, Glenorchy.

Glenorchy CIB Detectives are investigating and would like to speak with anyone who may have seen any suspicious people, vehicles or activity in Bathurst St, Richmond, or in the Hassell Place, Brent St and Dewdrop Court areas, Glenorchy, on Sunday night or Monday morning. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.