A SPATE of suspected arson attacks on cars in Bournemouth and Poole are not being linked by police.

Four vehicles were set alight in the area in the first six days of the year, with police issuing a series of witness appeals.

The first blaze at 10.30pm on January 1 saw an expensive Range Rover go up in flames on a driveway in Constitution Hill, Poole, which police said had caused the victim ‘extreme stress’.

Fire crews were called to Wedgwood Drive at 11pm on January 2 after receiving several reports that a vehicle parked in the residential road was alight.

On January 4, a silver Vauxhall Zafira stolen on New Year’s Day was found after being set alight in Adeline Road, Boscombe. The car had been taken from a property in Richmond Park Road. And on January 6, arson was again blamed for destroying a car in Ashley Road at around 12.30am.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said the force has no reason to believe the incidents were linked, but that the force would remain ‘open-minded’.

Steve Underhill, district commander for Westbourne and Springbourne fire stations, said: “Arson is a mindless act which can not only cause serious damage but tie up crews’ time and resources when they could be dealing with a real emergency.

“It is extremely dangerous, not only for the individual setting the fire but also for our crews. These sorts of fires can also draw resources away from other areas where they may be needed for a real emergency.”

Anyone with information about any of these incidents is asked to call Dorset Police on 101.