Bellerive CIB continues to investigate a deliberately lit fire at City Automotive in Cambridge Road, Mornington, last night, which resulted in damage totalling $100,000.

Just after 11pm last night, emergency services responded to a fire in the rear yard of City Automotive, an automotive repair premises at 295 Cambridge Road, Mornington.

The compound comprised a number of vehicle and shipping containers, with 10 vehicles being set alight. Nearby shipping containers also suffered some damage.

While emergency services were at the scene, a LPG gas cylinder adjacent to one of the vehicles caught fire and exploded.  Fortunately none of the attending officers were injured, however the explosion was heard and felt by nearby residents.

The fires were extinguished quickly, the scene was secured and subsequently examined by TFS fire scene investigators, Tasmania Police Forensic Services police and detectives from Bellerive CIB. The fires were confirmed to have been deliberately lit and investigations are continuing.

Detective Inspector Doug Rossiter of Bellerive CIB said: “We are exploring the link between this incident and the recovery of a stolen white 1989 Isuzu campervan a few hours earlier.”

The Isuzu campervan had been stolen from the yard behind City Automotive on 26 August 2018.   At 5:45pm yesterday, detectives recovered the vehicle from a residence in Warrane, in the possession of a 50 year old man who is a confirmed member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang.

The Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang member was arrested in relating to his possession of the vehicle and taken to Bellerive Police Station where he was interviewed, before being charged and bailed.  The fires at City Automotive were detected just over two hours later.

Anyone with information about this matter is urged contact Bellerive CIB on 131444. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au