Police release image of North Van arson suspect

North Vancouver RCMP are calling on the public to help identify a suspect they believe was involved in an arson of a local towing company business.

Eight vehicles were set ablaze at Mitchell’s Towing at 1255 Welch St. in the early morning hours of Sept. 25. They included two vehicles owned by the tow truck company and six other cars in the lot. Police were called to the scene of the fire around 3 a.m. that day.

So far police have released few details about the investigation, except to say they are treating it as arson.

On Monday, police revealed that video surveillance had captured an image of an unidentified person entering the fenced compound of the tow truck business around 2:15 a.m. – minutes before the fire broke out.

The person, believed to be male, is of average height and build and was carrying a black backpack with a red bottle in the side pocket. The person was wearing a blue surgical face mask in the images captured on surveillance video.

Investigators would like to identify this person, said Sgt. Peter DeVries, spokesman for the North Vancouver RCMP, and are issuing a public appeal for witnesses or anyone with information about the case.

Anyone with information can call the North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311. Anyone who has information but who wants to remain anonymous can contact Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers' via their website, on their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts, or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $2000 for information leading to an arrest and charge.