Van set on fire, pelted with tomatoes

Someone combined fire and tomatoes early Monday, but it wasn't to make pasta sauce.

A parked van was set on fire with a lit tiki torch and pelted with tomatoes in the U.S. Postal Service's Frederick Street parking lot, said patrolman Jason Selzer.

The burning Dodge Caravan was spotted shortly before 5 a.m. by a postal supervisor, who rushed into the office lobby to alert postal workers and get a fire extinguisher.

"Red and green tomatoes were thrown at the vehicle near the building," Selzer said. "And several others were found that hadn't been used."

Police believe the culprit broke one of the van's windows with a rock and threw the torch inside, Selzer said. A bottle of fuel commonly used to fill yard torches was found nearby.

The culprit also broke a storm window on the building with a beer bottle, said postmaster Mike Keefe.

"This is the first instance of real vandalism we've had in years," Keefe said. "Whoever it was got into the van and took a credit card out of it and threw it on the ground. They spent some time here."

The recently purchased van was worth about $18,000, Keefe said. It was primarily used to carry items for the post office's stamp vending machines around town.

Police have no leads or suspects in the arson, and officials are seeking possible witnesses who may have seen someone with a yard torch or tomatoes at the scene, Selzer said.

In addition, Keefe said the U.S. Postal service will be offering a $500 reward in exchange for information leading to an arrest for the crime.

Witnesses are asked to call the Cape Girardeau Police Department at 335-6621.

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160