Police hunt suspects as multiple cars set on fire in Wimborne
Social media footage shows four vehicles ablaze near the Coach and Horses pub on Poole Road
Up to 13 cars have been set alight in parts of Dorset overnight, with one fire spreading to a property.
Dorset Fire & Rescue Service said it received approximately 65 emergency calls relating to vehicle fires in the Wimborne and Poole areas between 11.30pm on Sunday and 2.30am on Monday, May 15.
The locations with reported incidents were Wentworth Drive, Oakley Hill, Oakley Road, Merley Ways, Stour Walk, New Borough Road, Grove Road and Leigh Road.
A video posted on social media appears to show around three vehicles ablaze near the Coach and Horses pub on Poole Road.
People can be seen standing outside their homes wearing their dressing gowns and taking videos, as smoke filled the night sky.
In the post on social media, residents warned each other to "stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity".
Dorset Police said its officers are "making every effort to identify those responsible".
Officers are carrying out house-to-house and CCTV enquiries.
Hairdresser Chloe Torring was woken up by her neighbour who told her that her car was on fire in the early hours of the morning.
Chloe said: "It's just crazy, I can't believe someone is nasty enough to do it for no good reason either, just no reason to do that to people.
"I was in complete disbelief, I thought it wasn't real."
Chloe Torring, car fire victim
Kayleigh Humphries said: "One of my neighbours came into the hallway and said there's been a car fire, this was about 1.30am, so my partner and I went outside and we can see a car on fire which belongs to the neighbour who lives above me.
"Then we could see through the back alleyway, smoke coming from another car.
"A short while later one of the other cars on the road opposite was on fire and people were running out of buildings saying there's been car fires.
"There were loud bangs and you didn't know whether there was another one that was going to go up soon because at first the car across the road was not on fire and then it engulfed into flames."
Kayleigh Humphries, neighbour
Detective Sergeant Simon Austin, of County CID, said: "These incidents have affected a large number of victims in the wider Wimborne area and we are aware that this will cause concern."I would like to reassure our local communities that officers are currently investigating all reported incidents and are making every effort to identify those responsible.
"People will see visible police activity as officers are making house-to-house and CCTV enquiries."We are appealing for any witnesses to any of the incidents or anyone who might have seen suspicious activity in the roads mentioned to please come forward.
"Also, I would urge anyone who may have home CCTV installed in those areas and anyone with dashcam to please check their footage to see if there is anything of relevance that could help us."Additional neighbourhood officers will be in the area who can be approached for advice and support."Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police online or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55230073977.
Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.