POLICE believe the same two youths lit grass fires in Somerville, Hastings and Frankston over the weekend.
Although not causing a great deal of damage the fires on Saturday afternoon, 26 November, tied up CFA volunteers and could have spread to neighbouring properties, police say.
Somerville detectives believe there is a link between the offences, with the youths possibly catching a train on the Stony Point line between fires.
Grass was set alight behind a property in Church St, Hastings, 5.40pm, burning down a fence. Hastings CFA crews attended. Witnesses said they saw youths lighting the fires.
A grass fire was lit near George St, behind the Somerville Recreation Centre, 6.30pm. Police later spoke with a 15-year-old youth but no charges were laid.
Earlier, a fire had been lit in a public reserve beside railway tracks at Leawarra Parade, Frankston, 3.30-4pm.
Detective Senior Sergeant Miro Majstorovic, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, asked that anyone with information on the fires call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
First published in the Western Port News – 29 November 2016
