Appeal after car set on fire in Strathaven street

Detectives are continuing their enquiries and appealing to the public for information after a car was set on fire outside a house in Strathaven on Monday.

Around 1.25am, police were called to a report of a car on fire outside the property in Fortrose Gardens.

Emergency services attended and the fire was extinguished however it had caused extensive damage to a BMW X2 car, and some damage to a BMW X6 and the house itself. No-one was injured

Detective Inspector Alan MacDonald of Cambuslang Police Office said: “Luckily a passer-by noticed the car on fire and it was extinguished before it caused even more damage or harm.

“Extensive police enquiries are being carried out into this incident to trace whoever is responsible for setting this fire. A large amount of CCTV footage has been gathered and officers are studying this footage to gather more information on people seen in the area around the time of the fire, or vehicles seen in the local area.

“I would ask anyone who seen someone acting suspiciously in or around Fortrose Gardens to contact us as soon as possible. I would also urge people who were driving in the roads in and around the town of Strathaven between 12.30am and 1.30am early on Monday morning to contact us. We would particularly like to hear from drivers with dash-cam footage who were driving on the roads leading to Glassford, Chapelton, Stonehouse, Hamilton and Sandford, as your camera may have captured footage which could be vital to this enquiry.”

Chief Superintendent Alan Waddell, Divisional Commander for Lanarkshire Division, added:

"While it is understandable that local people may be concerned, there is nothing to suggest there is any wider threat to the community. We have increased our high-visibility uniform and plain-clothes patrols in the area. I would urge anyone with information that could assist our enquiry to come forward. If you have any concerns please get in touch with Police Scotland via 101 or speak to any of the officers."