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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Campbell Thomas

Shock footage shows moment hooded thugs set fire to recovery truck on Scots street

This is the moment two hoodlums turn a recovery truck into a fireball in a late-night attack.

The mystery criminals are captured on CCTV strolling towards the vehicle, parked in an estate full of young families.

They are seen spraying liquid over the cab, which bursts into flames seconds later.

Both crooks then turn and flee the way they came after the apparently targeted attack in Kilwinning, Ayrshire.

Owner Lee Bell was in bed when another resident raised the alarm shortly before 11pm on Monday.

Lee, 34, said: "My neighbour was chapping the door and shouting at me to come down.

"I opened my curtains and the truck was ablaze in the street.

"I went out but it was too late to save it.

"I'm trying to see what's worth salvaging but it's basically a write-off."

The vehicle has been extensively damaged (Thomas Media)

Dad-of-two Lee only started the business, R&R Auto Services, less than a year ago and the Ford Transit was worth £8,000.

He said: "I've been speaking to the CID and we've been trying to find any neighbours' CCTV or dashcam footage.

"My head's been fried with it all, to be honest. It's my earnings and job that's gone up in flames.

"It's like taking a man's tools away from him.

"I've been trying to work out why someone would do this to me.

"I've been going for just under a year and I've been trying to build up the business."

Lee added: "Maybe somebody in the trade thinks I'm taking customers away from them, I don't know."

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: "Around 10.55pm on Monday, February 7, officers were called to a report of a van on fire in Glenapp Place, Kilwinning.

"The fire is being treated as wilful and police inquiries are continuing."

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