Arson at Murrieta Postal and More causes damage to five businesses
At 2:30 am on 11-12-2008, Murrieta Police Department officers responded at the request of Murrieta Fire Department personnel to 40165 Murrieta Hot Springs Road regarding a fire and sprinkler activation coming from the “Postal and More” business in Suite G. Officers arrived on scene to assist and immediately discovered what they believed to be an arson scene at the back of the building.
Officers found the rear metal door to the business had been breached and a small opening was created by the suspect. Officers also discovered a burnt piece of cardboard at the exterior base of the door. It was later determined an accelerant was poured into the interior of the business through the opening in the door created by the suspect The accelerant was then ignited and paper and cardboard items stored inside the business quickly caught fire. The fire was suppressed by the fire sprinkler system. At least five adjacent suites sustained substantial and costly water damage.
Arson Investigators from the Fire Department and Detectives from the Police Department are investigating several leads including reviewing video surveillance footage. Anyone with any information about the arson, please contact Det. Phil Gomez at 951-461-6356.