FIRE services and police are on the tail of an arsonist in Hayes with 12 cars being set alight over the last three weeks.
The incidents have all happened in the Botwell area, and the two latest arsons occurred last weekend.
On Saturday morning at around 3am, firemen extinguished a car blaze is Juniper Way – the third on that road in the past two weekends – and just 24 hours later, emergency services were called back to adjoining Ash Grove after a van had been torched.
Martin Green, Hillingdon fire safety team leader, confirmed that there had been nine previous incidents concentrated in the immediate area, and said that he had 'grave concerns' about the spate.
"We are working closely with our partners – street champions, neighbourhood watch, the local Safer Neighbourhood Team, and the council – to track down whoever is responsible and bring them to book.
"A great deal of damage, at huge cost, has been caused in a relatively short space of time. A fire in a car or in a bin is dangerous because either could contain items that could cause the fire to become more volatile.
"Cars are full of plastics which produce toxic smoke when burnt, and one concern is small children being in the area.
"Car fires are quite rare nowadays because scrap value has gone through the roof. They also generally occur in isolation, so we are working on the assumption that these incidents are linked.
"We are asking residents to be extra vigilante, especially in the evenings, and report any suspicious behaviour to the police.
"We want people to tell us of abandoned cars and rubbish piling up in the street, so we can remove it and take the opportunity away for arsonists."
A Juniper Way resident, who has asked not to be named, said: "This area is generally quiet, and things have improved a lot in the last few years.
"Although there was the odd bit of trouble over the Christmas holidays, it was only kids getting up to mischief.
"This road has been noisy in the past few weekends, with engines screeching down the road and putting the fires out. I don't know why this has started happening all of a sudden."
No arrests have been made.
Anybody with further information on the fires should contact Hillingdon CID on 0208 246 1447.
For a free fire safety check and smoke alarm, call the Fire Brigade on 08000 284 428, or email smokealarms@london-fire.gov.uk
