Trio hunted after cars set on fire at Addiewell prison

The incident happened on Friday.

Published 17th Aug 2016

Police are hunting a gang who set fire to five vehicles in a car park at HMP Addiewell.

Staff at the West Lothian prison raised the alarm last Friday when the blaze broke out.

Three men wearing balaclavas were seen getting out of a blue Range Rover Evoque at around 7.45pm and starting the fire before driving off, police said.

Around half-an-hour later, two men were seen setting fire to the Range Rover in Harvesters Way, Edinburgh, before fleeing in a silver car.

Officers believe it was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the general public'', but the fire caused thousands of pounds of damage.

The investigation has found that the Range Rover was stolen from outside a house in Queen Margaret Close, Edinburgh, sometime between August 7 and 8 while the occupiers were on holiday.

An Audi A3 was also stolen in the same incident but has since been recovered by police.

Detective Inspector Paul Batten, of Livingston CID, said: We are satisfied that this was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the general public.

However, this was a brazen attack that caused several thousand pounds worth of damage as well as significant fear and alarm.

I'm appealing to anyone who saw the blue Range Rover Evoque at any point between Monday August 8 and Friday August 12 to come forward immediately.

Likewise, anyone who has information relating to the housebreaking in Queen Margaret Close between August 7 and 8 is asked to come forward.''