Burned cars

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Two vehicle fires have taken place in one week in the borough of St. Laurent.

The latest took place around 9:30 p.m. Dec. 19 in the rear of an industrial building in the area of St. Charles, in the western part of the borough. The vehicle is considered to be a total loss, police say. The nearby building was not damaged. An incendiary device was found.

The other fire in St. Laurent last week took place early in the morning of Dec. 17 in the area of Jean Bouillet Avenue and Keller Boulevard.

That incident took place in the northwestern part of the borough, west of Laurentian Blvd and near Marlborough Park, a residential area. A 911 call to police had been made at 2:45.

Police say the fire department brought the fire under control and that a person of interest had been seen leaving the area.

The vehicle is said to be a total loss. The file was transferred to the SPVM’s arson squad. No one was injured and the fire did not spread.

These fires are the latest of many that have taken place not only in St. Laurent, but in many locations across the island of Montreal in recent weeks and months.

A vehicle fire took place in early November, at Cypihot Street, near Douglas-B.-Floreani Street in the western part of the borough. Three semi-trailers were damaged in that incident.

As reported by The Suburban, numerous other fires have been set in recent years in St. Laurent in the industrial areas of the borough, in the driveways of private homes, destroying and damaging vehicles; and at local businesses allegedly as part of extortion schemes against Arab-owned restaurants. Businesses and restaurants have also been fired upon.

Recently, vehicles in two St. Laurent driveways — both in close proximity to the Beth Ora Synagogue — were set on fire, less than a month apart. And last February, two fires in a space of 90 minutes took place at a home on Alexis-Nihon, damaging several vehicles, and at the Challenger Conference and Reception Hall. n