Taxi driver's car set on fire in suspected 'grudge' attack
A taxi driver's car was set alight by an alleged arsonist who struck late at night. A passer-by alerted the man after noticing flames coming from the Green Metro Cars Toyota parked on his driveway in Reading.
He raced to put out the fire - and managed to stop it spreading.
The taxi firm told BerkshireLive it believes the fire on Saturday night was started by someone with a "grudge" against the company. It said its vehicles have been targeted in several attacks over the last year.
Police confirmed officers are investigating the incident.
A Green Metro Cars spokesman said: "It has been happening for quite some time now. "Within a year there have been four such incidents with windows smashed in our cars, damage like that.
"It wasn't even robbery or attempted robbery, because nothing was taken from our vehicles, so someone might have a grudge against the company." He said the driver was in a state of shock after the fire on Shinfield Rise.
Police said officers were called at 11.45pm on Saturday.
The Green Metro Cars spokesman added: "The car was parked outside our driver's house, in his driveway, and someone rang his doorbell and said 'Your vehicle is on fire and someone has run off'. "It was just someone walking along the street who saw it.
"Someone must have thrown some chemicals or kerosene at it. "The exterior was on fire and the flames went through the bonnet, but he was able to extinguish the flames."
The firm is asking anyone with information on the incident to contact police or get in touch on 0118 966 6656.
A police spokesman said: "Thames Valley Police was called at around 11.45pm on Friday, July 3 to a report of arson in Westlands Avenue, Shinfield. "A car had been set alight. "An investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 101 or make a report online quoting reference 4320020116.