CARLSBAD, Calif. (KGTV) - Several vehicles at a Carlsbad auto dealership were destroyed or damaged by a fire believed to have been started intentionally.
The possible arson was reported shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday in the service area lot at the Bob Baker Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealership at 5555 Car Country Dr.
General Manager Kurt Anderson told 10News a cleaning crew was at work when they heard a pop outside. They ran outside and saw numerous vehicles on fire.
Anderson said eight vehicles were burned, with six of them being completely destroyed. He told 10News the dealership’s service advisors were contacting the owners of the vehicles affected.
10News learned the dealership’s surveillance camera recorded a person carrying out the act, and investigators are looking at the video and other evidence as they search for a suspect.
Anderson said of the video: “You see a guy come up, pour some stuff, then you see a big flame and the guy run off.”
No injuries were reported.
Anderson told 10News it will be business as usual at the dealership on Wednesday, but he remains in shock by what happened.
“I’ve been with the Baker Group for over 30 years and this is the first time we’ve ever seen an arson incident like this,” he said.
Anderson added, “It feels like somebody attacked us; I don’t like it. Usually, if there’s a problem, we have customers come talk to us, communicate, try to solve the issues and make them happy … it never goes to this degree.”
