Le Figaro Nice
Three individuals, including two minors, were arrested and placed in police custody on Sunday for “destruction of property by dangerous means,”
Le Figaro
learned on Monday.
They are suspected of having deliberately set fire to a car in a supermarket parking lot in Menton (Alpes-Maritimes).
Not just any car since it is the one rented by the father-in-law of one of the three thieves.
Aged just 18, the latter allegedly had a dispute with his mother's companion on Saturday evening, at the family home, located in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
It was in this context that he came up with the idea of stealing the rental vehicle and going out on the road with his two friends, aged 15 and 16.
They notably went to Nice before ending up in the Menton parking lot.
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Lighters and gasoline fumes
Around 1:30 a.m., emergency police were alerted to the fire by a few passers-by.
It didn't take them more than ten minutes to find the two minors, who were still wandering around the area.
One of them was in possession of two lighters while the second was wearing a jacket with strong gasoline fumes.
They were immediately arrested and then taken to the police station.
Without anyone knowing how, the main suspect, for his part, managed to return home.
He was only apprehended after jumping out of bed around 8:30 a.m. Sunday, after his stepfather called the authorities.
As of Monday afternoon, their hearings were still underway.
The investigations were entrusted to the Menton Urban Security.