another suspicious fire in Surrey has led police to believe that a serial arsonist may be operating in the area. Police received a report from the fire service of an arson attack at a farm in Thursley in the early hours of last Friday. It is the fifth report of suspicious fires in the Thursley and Bowlhead Green areas since the beginning of the year. Police believe the most recent offence, at Little Cowdray Farm in Highfield Lane, was committed between 2-30 am and 3-30 am. A hay barn and the contents were destroyed, resulting in thousands of pounds' worth of damage. The barn fire, which police say was started deliberately, completely destroyed the building as well as a tractor and a dive boat being stored inside. A red Honda Prelude parked nearby was also destroyed by the effects of the fire. Police are concerned about the spate of arson attacks in the area and are not ruling out that the incidents may be connected. The officer in the case would like to hear from anyone who has noticed anything untoward happening in the area or anyone with information on the incidents to come forward. On April 1 a barn at Bowlhead Farm, in Rutton Hill Road, Bowlhead Green, was destroyed, along with fertiliser, farm machinery and straw after being set alight at around 8 pm. The blaze caused damage amounting to around £75,000. Three other suspicious fires occurred in January. Over the weekend of Friday, January 27 to Monday, January 30, a shed was burnt down in the back garden of a house in Portsmouth Road, Thursley, causing damage worth several hundred pounds. The shed contained donated second-hand goods that were due to be sent to a charity appeal in Africa, and everything was completely destroyed. This followed a report of an attempted arson at Thursley Cricket Club in Dye House Road, when the groundsman discovered two small fires had been lit in the petrol tanks of two power mowers housed in a shed overnight on January 27 and 28. These fires were extinguished but caused £150 worth of damage. However, just after 4 am on Sunday, January 29, the entire cricket pavilion was burned to the ground, causing damage estimated at £40,000. As well as the wooden pavilion, two sheds containing ground equipment were destroyed. Anyone with information on any of these arson attacks is asked to contact Dc Richard Hunt at Waverley CID on 0845 125 2222. Alternatively, callers who prefer to remain anonymous should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 free of charge.
