Port Chester police: 3 cars set ablaze along residential road in the village

Firefighters responded to Spring Street between Westchester Avenue and William Street around 4 a.m. on Sunday for one car on fire but quickly discovered two more were also burning.

Jonathan Gordon

Jun 13, 2023, 12:49 AM

Updated 410 days ago

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Port Chester police detectives are investigating several arsons after three cars were lit on fire along a residential road in the village over the weekend.
Firefighters responded to Spring Street between Westchester Avenue and William Street around 4 a.m. on Sunday for one car on fire but quickly discovered two more were also burning.
Silvia Pinto was woken up by the smell of smoke and sirens early Sunday morning to see a car next door on fire. Moments later, her brother saw smoke where Pinto's husband parked his 2021 Honda Ridgeline.
"I thought, OK, so maybe it's a malfunction and then my brother says but there's another car on fire down the street and my husband says, 'That's my car!’" said Silvia Pinto.
She and other neighbors question how safe it is to park their cars along the street overnight now.
"How did this happen? How could this happen in this neighborhood?" asked Pinto.
Leo Manchalo's mother's car was also targeted. A video he shared with News 12 appears to show the fire starting under the engine.
Other videos shared with News 12 also show multiple cars burning from underneath the hood.
"We park the cars on the street but now we feel insecure about it," said Leo Manchalo.
In total, three cars were targeted, seemingly at random, while several others suffered damage from heat, smoke, and water.
"We don't know exactly the reason why this person did this," said Manchalo.
The Westchester County Cause & Origin Team determined the cars were intentionally set on fire, according to the Port Chester Fire Department.
Police officials said the incident was "very concerning" and are aggressively investigating.


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