Baltimore Authorities Probe Rash Of Firebombings

BALTIMORE (WJZ) --Baltimore police are warning about a series of potentially dangerous cases of arson aimed at random homeowners. Someone has been throwing Molotov cocktails at homes all over the city in the middle of the night.

Derek Valcourt has more on whom the arsonist is targeting.

Police say that's the problem. There appears to be no rhyme or reason to the attacks, which is why they want to spread the word to snuff out this criminal.

One of the Molotov cocktails went through a window in a Wesley Avenue home early Tuesday morning.

"I woke up to my mom screaming my name, and I grabbed my 9-month-old son, and I went to my door and my whole window in my dining room was completely on fire," said Megan Doyle, victim.

Doyle is counting her blessing that no one was hurt in her home. The damage is still evident inside her dining room, but her mother was able to quickly extinguish the flames.

"If that fire had gotten to the middle of our dining room, I don't think we could have gotten out so easily," Doyle said.

Wednesday morning at a house on Yosemite Avenue, someone threw a Molotov cocktail through the window, surprising the homeowner and neighbors.

"It's hard to believe because you have to have someone who don't like you one way or the other," said Fred Lewis, victim's neighbor.

In all, it's happened nine times since Sept. 13—many in Northwest Baltimore with several in other parts of the city.

Police believe the victims' houses have been chosen at random.  Police say all of the cases have pretty much been the same-- a Molotov cocktail goes smashing through a window in the late night or early morning hours.

Police are now pressing for the public help.

"We haven't had any indication it was part of a gang or anything of that nature," said Maj. Cliff McWhite, Baltimore City Police.

So far no one's been hurt but, fire officials worry that could change.

"It takes less than a minute for one room in your home to become fully involved," said Chief Kevin Cartwright, fire department.

"We don't know why it happened, and we don't want it to happen again so we are going to move," Doyle said.

The attacks have frazzled the victims and left area neighbors on high alert.

"We got to keep our eyes open, man. You never know," said Andre Copeland, victim's neighbor.

Police are asking the public to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, especially if you see anyone with gasoline in glass bottles.

Anyone with information on the case can remain anonymous and even earn some reward money by calling Metro Crime Stoppers at 866-7-LOCKUP.