Detectives appear to be on the trail of the arsonist who torched a police car in Lyttelton yesterday.
Detective Sergeant Al Lester said security camera footage was being examined and police were very hopeful of catching the offender.
the arson attack at the Lyttelton police resulted in a police car being badly damaged and another suffering heat damage.
Lyttelton-based Sergeant Gary Manch said the Fire Service was called to the station in Sumner Rd at around 2.10am after a neighbour reported hearing an explosion and seeing flames at the station.
Sergeant Manch said the fire was brought under control relatively quickly.
"One car was fully alight and is a complete write-off, while a second car that was parked beside it has suffered heat damage to its exterior.
"There's also a small amount of damage to an exterior wall of the station."
Sergeant Manch said a woman was located by police close to the scene shortly after the incident, and had been spoken to by investigators.
Two small rubbish bin fires had also been found on London St, which appeared to have been lit shortly before the police station fire.
Another neighbour reported hearing car windows being smashed at about the same time as the fire occurred at the police station.
Sergeant Manch said: "We're fortunate that the damage wasn't more severe - but it's still a blow. We lost the old police station after the earthquake and were just getting back on our feet in our temporary building.
"If it hadn't been for the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade's action the station could have been destroyed. So it's a big thanks from us to the volunteer firefighters."
Sergeant Manch said as far as they were aware it was the first major incident that had occurred at the Lyttelton Police Station since 1880.
- By Christine de Felice of The Star
