A Maitland homeowner says he is trying to find out why people threw a petrol bomb at his house.
In the early hours of Tuesday, the family was sleeping in the rented Highclere Street home when they were woken up by a loud explosion.
When they went outside, their two cars were on fire and part of the house was also in flames.
The landlord Daniel Okey says he has had to move the shaken tenants to another property after the incident.
“The suspects drove here and threw a petrol bomb in the old Mercedes-Benz C300, which was in the front of the Nissan Micra, and then spread to the house,” he says.
“It was around 3.30 in the morning, they said they heard a loud noise. The owner of the Micra (the tenant’s wife) apparently had oil in the car and it caused an explosion.”
Daniel tells the Daily Voice that things could have been worse.
“The flames then went through the roof setting the house alight, the firefighters managed to put the fire out before it destroyed the entire house,” he says.
“The family is not doing anything suspicious, the man is a security guard and his wife is also working, they live there with their two young children.
“I am just happy that no one died from the fire. The police are investigating the case.”
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed the incident and said no arrests have been made yet.
“Maitland Police are investigating a case of unlawful and intentional setting of fire to immovable property belonging to another or his/her own insured immovable property.
“Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.”