Arsonists Toss Molotov Cocktails Into San Leandro Homes
SAN LEANDRO (CBS SF) - Two San Leandro homes were targeted by arsonists using Molotov cocktails early Tuesday morning, police Lt. Jeff Tudor said.
At 3:25 a.m., residents of a home in the 500 block of West Merle Court heard a loud crash and noticed a strong odor of gasoline.
The residents found that their front window was broken, and on the living room floor there was a broken glass bottle with a gasoline-soaked rag inside it, police said.
Tudor said it appeared someone had tried to ignite the rag before the bottle was thrown into the house, but it did not spark a fire.
Then, at about 9:20 a.m., a house fire was reported in the 500 block of East Merle Court. The residents were not in the house at the time the fire started, police said.
The blaze, which was contained to the living room, was extinguished by the Alameda County Fire Department. Police blocked off the East Merle Court while firefighters battled the fire.
The home smelled of gas, and investigators discovered that the fire had been sparked by a Molotov cocktail that had been thrown through the front window.
It remains a mystery why the two homes were targeted, Tudor said.
"It does not appear that occupants of either residence are associated with one another," he said.
San Leandro police have not identified any suspects in the cases.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
