Horrifying footage has captured the moment a man pours gas over a car before setting it alight, in the third incident on the same driveway in six years.
The shocking incident happened in Haddonfield, New Jersey, on Saturday night when an unknown arsonist emptied the contents of a gas can onto a SUV.
The couple who live at the property had been asleep when the incident unfolded on Concord Circle in the town.
Surveillance footage shows the arsonist pouring gasoline into the engine bay and then underneath the silver vehicle.
The person then pours a trail to ignite as he backs away from the vehicle and the property.
The crime marks the latest black mark on the Dem-led state which was catapulted on the national stage after its senator faces down the barrel of alleged bribery charges.
Police have since said that the home has been the target of three separate arson incidents
Within minutes the car was completely engulfed in flames, with the arsonist making a swift
He then returns and lights the trail, causing the SUV to quickly become completely engulfed in the inferno.
As the fire takes hold, the engine can be seen exploding – sending fire and debris across the driveway.
What is believed to be the homeowner can be seen attempting to hose the flames down as the vehicle continues to burn.
Police have since said that the home has been the target of three separate arson incidents.
The first was in 2017, then in 2021 and now last weekend. Police said each time a different homeowner has been living there.
In a public safety update, Haddonfield Police said: ‘A suspect poured gasoline on a car parked in the homeowner’s driveway and set it on fire.
‘The property has been the target of arson previously; there have been multiple incidents since 2017, with the house changing ownership multiple times.
The unknown arsonist pours a trial to light as he backs away from the vehicle and the property
CCTV footage shows the arsonist pouring gasoline into the engine bay and then underneath the silver vehicle
‘There is no evidence to indicate the greater Haddonfield Community is at risk.
‘Detectives from both law enforcement agencies and the Fire Marshall are committed to solving the crimes and charging the individual(s) to bring closure to the residents of Concord Circle.
‘We ask that you respect the privacy of the current homeowners.’
Police Chief Jason Cutler added: ‘Through investigation, we learned that there was a suspect that actually lit the car on fire using gasoline.
When asked by CBS News why the property was being targeted, he added: ‘We don’t know that’s a good question but it’s really centered around this one residence in town. We don’t have an arsonist running through town.’
The brazen Garden State crime come in the wake of New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez entering a not guilty plea to a criminal charge for conspiring to act as agent for the Egyptian government.
Menendez, 69, and his wife Nadine, 56, are facing three criminal counts each for their part in an alleged bribery scheme after a year long investigation.
Prosecutors said the senator and his wife accepted bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car over the past five years from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for a variety of corrupt acts.
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., arrives at Manhattan federal court, Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, in New York
Senator Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian have been charged on three criminal counts related to bribery and extortion
Agents discovered over $500,000 worth of cash stuffed into envelopes and in jackets belonging to the senator
The rewritten indictment added a charge alleging that the senator, his wife and one of the businessmen conspired to have Menendez act as an agent of the government of Egypt and Egyptian officials.
Among the allegations include that Menendez passed information to staff at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.
Multiple gold bars were found during a court-authorized search of the couple’s home in June 2022.
The gold bars were part of the hundreds of thousands in bribes the couple are accused of accepting, which totaled over $400,000.
Agents also discovered over $500,000 worth of cash stuffed into envelopes and in jackets belonging to the senator.
The original criminal indictment claimed the New Jersey senator Googled ‘How much is one kilo of gold worth?’ after arriving home from a trip to Egypt in October 2021.
David Schertler, a lawyer for Nadine Menendez, previously said she ‘denies any criminal conduct and will vigorously contest these charges in court.’
