Residents are appealing for information amid suspicions that a works van and two cars were destroyed in a deliberate fire at an Inverness housing estate.
A business van, understood to belong to Gavin Macdonald Flooring, was left burned out following the blaze on Aird Avenue at 5am on Saturday morning.
Two other cars caught fire during the incident, and are believed to be damaged beyond repair.
Gavin MacDonald, the owner of one of the vehicles, made an appeal for information on social media.
He said: “Someone may have seen something suspicious.”
Residents say the fire comes on the back of a number of petty crimes happening in the area.
Rowan MacLean, who lives along the road from where the fire happened, said: “It was very frightening. This was a serious fire. It could have been much worse.
“Two cars and a van were damaged.
“The police seem to have been in and around the area a lot more since it happened.
“Bikes have been stolen and strange men have been hanging about the play park over the last few weeks. We are all a bit worried about what on earth is going on.
“It just takes one or two people to behave badly and people get frightened.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Officers were called to Aird Avenue in Inverness around 5.10am on Saturday, following a report that three vehicles were alight.
“The fire is being treated as unexplained and inquiries are ongoing.”
A fire service spokeswoman said: “When we arrived there were two cars and a van on fire.
“Crews used two hose reel jets and two sets of breathing apparatus to extinguish the flames.”
Information regarding the fire can be made to the police on 101, or passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers online or by calling 0800 555 111.
