MASON CITY – A van sustained serious damage this week in a fire that is being investigated as arson.
According to Mason City police, on September 9 at around 3:11 AM, a resident reported a subject possibly trying to get into a parked vehicle in the 700 block of North Jefferson. Mason City police officers began to saturate the area, searching for the suspect.
At 3:23 AM, a resident reported his van was on fire at 911 North Jefferson. The resident was trying to extinguish the flames as officers arrived. The fire is suspicious and is being jointly investigated as a possible arson case by the Mason City Fire Department and police investigators.
No armed subjects were identified in the area at that time, police said.
A request for information to the fire department on the total vehicle damage was not immediately responded to.
Police said that car prowls of unlocked vehicles continue to occur. Whether the possible arson is related to the car prowls or a coincidence is unknown at this time.
