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Car Arsons Continue Despite Arrest Of 4 Teens

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Apr 7, 2008 7:43 pm US/Central

Car Arsons Continue Despite Arrest Of 4 Teens

 
Reporting
Bud Gillett
DALLAS (CBS 11 News/ AP) ― Cars are still being set on fire in Dallas despite weekend arrests. Police believe four teenagers are responsible for the bulk of more than 25 vehicle arsons.

Plainclothes officers say they watched the four boys, ages 13 to 16, set a car afire on Los Cabos Drive near 1-35 and Laureland on Saturday night.

Authorities say the motive is unclear, but the usual method of delivery was gasoline and Molotov cocktails.

"They damaged private property, they threatened neighborhood, and they created a diversion of resources of our police department and our fire department," said Dave Neumann, Dallas City Council. "All of the above says we will not tolerate this."

Dallas police say another car was set on fire early Monday after it was doused with a liquid. The car was parked in the owner's driveway on the 1500 block of South Oak Cliff Blvd.

Police say they had no idea another car would be targeted so soon.

"We still have an ongoing investigation taking place," said Lt. Joel Lavender, Dallas Fire Dept. "No one ever said that this investigation was complete. We still need citizens to help us."

Philippe Zuniga's truck was one of the first victims during the initial wave of arsons back on Feb. 28. He said someone smashed his window and threw a burning doll onto his seat. He put it out before anything besides the seat and carpet were damaged.

His wife hopes the arrests will show the boys just how much they've hurt people.

"[They] mess with people [who are] working, that is all the time working very hard to have something," said Mehida Zuniga. "They don't know who they are doing the bad things to."

Sunday morning's arson attack was especially disturbing for Paula Elizalde. She and her family slept as flames licked the eaves of their home. She says a small miracle emerged from the ashes: rosary beads she had hanging from the rearview mirror survived the fire undamaged.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (877) 373-TIPS (8477).

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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