Police investigating three arson attacks on cars in Brightlingsea have confirmed that they are looking for one suspect who may live in the town.

A car in Well Street was burned out on August 28, with two more early on Saturday, September 18 in Queen Street and Spring Road. Police have examined CCTV of the incidents from privately-owned cameras and have concluded that the suspect is the same person. The images are not clear enough to give facial features but do show that the suspect was wearing the same clothes on both occasions.

In a email to Brightlingsea Town Council, the investigating officer, who is also looking into a spate of overnight break-ins and damage to cars in the town since January this year, said:  “Judging by the small items taken from the vehicles, the fairly close proximity of offences and that fact that the suspect is never seen making off in a car, I would suggest he is local and on foot, rather than travelling into Brightlingsea from outside.”

He added: “At this time my best chance of identifying the suspect is through forensics. I am sure you will understand that is no easy task when the car has been burnt out and fire have sprayed water all over it. I am therefore focusing our efforts on other cars that have been entered and searched on the same night, but not set fire to. I am awaiting results from our Crime Scene Investigators.”

Police patrols were in the town overnight on Sunday and Monday looking for the suspect, and officers from the Operational Policing Command will be deployed to the town until the perpetrator is caught.