Police investigating arson at Surprise home

SURPRISE, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Police are investigating an arson incident that happened at a Surprise home early Wednesday morning.

The Surprise Police Department tells FOX 10 that police and firefighters responded to a home near Reems and Bell Roads after receiving reports of a fire at the house.

After arriving at the scene, firefighters quickly extinguished flames that were contained to a nearby mattress.

Fire investigators then learned that damage had been also done to three vehicles at the home. The vehicles had their tires slashed, broken windshield wipers and scratched paint.

"They cut the tires. There's actually three vehicles.. got all tires except for one right there," said Troy Chester.

The vandals scratched the cars and wrote the word "die" on the them, tipped over a basketball hoop, then set a small fire -- and it's not the first time the vandals have struck.

"Earlier this month, they got to side of the house and cut the screens and destroyed glass tables in back, threw items around the yard," explained Chester, who says his message to whoever is doing this is, "Why? We don't know what is going on."

The family is planning to install a video surveillance system to defend their property and they're asking for tips to help the police arrest the vandal or vandals.

"If anybody has seen or heard anything, noticed anyone in the neighborhood who doesn't belong in the neighborhood, I think that helps a lot," said Chester.

If you have any information about this case, call the Surprise Police Department at 623-222-TIPS (8477) or e-mail crimetips@surpriseaz.gov.