Updated: Apr. 30, 9:00 a.m.
Police have confirmed that the vehicle arson occurred at Keenan Court in Gainesville.
Initial speculation on the reported multiple explosions may have been related to the tires of the vehicle.
"Explosions are common with vehicle fires because of the tires," police spokesman Jonathan Perok said.
Original Story:
Bridlewood Residents awoke to an explosion early Saturday morning.
Following a tip from social media, detectives from the Property Crimes Unit arrested a male Gainesville teen in connection with multiple burglaries and vehicle arson, which caused a truck to explode at 12:40 a.m.
“Officers and fire crews found a vehicle fully engulfed in flames which was later determined to be [a] vehicle stolen from Cleveland Bay Court,” police spokesman Jonathan Perok said.
Police reported that other thefts from vehicles were reported in the Bridlewood community over the course of the weekend.
A homeowner on the 8500 block of Foal Court reported to police that between 9:00 p.m. April 25 and 5:00 a.m. April 26, an individual entered an attached garage through an open door and took a $300 DVD player from an unlocked vehicle parked in the garage.
Around 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. the same evening, an officer responded to the 8400 block of Cleveland Bay Court for a reported stolen vehicle.
“The vehicle was parked in the driveway with the keys inside,” Perok said. “While the officer was at the residence conducting the investigation he heard a loud explosion nearby.”
Eyewitnesses posted on Facebook that there may have been up to three explosions.
“The explosion literally shook me out of a sound sleep…it exploded three times! It burned from the inside-out,” said one resident. “It was SUPER scary!!"
In yet another incident, police report that a firearm was taken from an unlocked vehicle on Filly Court between 10:00 p.m. April 25 and 1:45 p.m. April 26.
Following a lead from Facebook, detectives arrested the juvenile who was charged (for the Foal Court incident) with burglary and grand larceny; grand larceny – auto (for the Cleveland Bay Court incident); and grand larceny – firearm and petit larceny (for the Filly Court incident).
The teen’s court date is unavailable and he is being held at the Juvenile Detention Facility.
According to police, the investigation continues into other possible thefts in the area, with the Prince William County Fire Marshal’s Office investigating the vehicle arson.
"The Prince William County Police Department would like to remind citizens to always lock and secure their vehicles and to NEVER leave a firearm inside of an unattended vehicle," Perok said.
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