Windham, NH police investigating vandalism incidents

WINDHAM, N.H. (MyFoxBoston.com -- Police are investigating multiple reports of vandalism that took place recently around Faith Road.

[if gte mso 9]> A person in  surveillance video could be the person responsible for the incidents in a normally peaceful neighborhood.

"Someone wants to burn my house for some reason and I don't know why. I'm just beside myself," said Mike Malinowski, whose property was vandalized twice.

It all started April 5, when Malinowski walked outside to find his truck tires slashed right in his driveway.

"I actually went out and got a security system," he said.

Then two weeks later, Sunday on Easter morning, Malinowski woke up to find his driveway and front yard drenched in what smelled like gasoline.

"I noticed the stain on my driveway," he said.

When he went back to check his security system, the video showed a person running up toward his house with what looks like a gasoline can. He stays out of frame right next to the house for almost exactly a minute - then takes off down the driveway. The video has since been turned over to Windham police.

"I can't even go to sleep at night. I'm scared for my family and scared for my neighborhood here," Malinowski said.

About 30 minutes later, less than a quarter-mile away, on Ridgemont Road, James Hannon woke up to find his truck up in flames.

"I heard my dog barking very violently. We looked outside, heard the alarm on my truck," Hannon said. "Come to find it fully engulfed in flames"

Police say the cause of the fire is undetermined, but the surveillance video from Malinowski's home shows the person who poured gasoline on his driveway heading toward an intersection with Ridgemont Road.

People who live in this quiet neighborhood say nothing like this has ever happened before.

"Do I feel safe? No, I don't. Honestly, no I don't," said neighbor Jonathan Vasconcelos.
 
Detectives canvassed the neighborhood Monday, but so far no one has been arrested. Now both the victims and others in the neighborhood are praying police find whoever's responsible - before they do something even more dangerous.

And fire officials still working to figure out what sparked that truck fire. Anyone with information is asked to call the Windham Police Department and ask for Detective VanHirtum. Information can also be forwarded via email at police@windhampd.com.[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE

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