An elderly woman has been left 'badly shaken' after a fire was deliberately started at her home in the early hours of this morning.
At around 4am today the 73-year-old woman was asleep in her house in Woodstock Drive, Wishaw, when she was awoken by her smoke alarm.
She went into the hallway and discovered that the carpet at the front door was alight.
She managed to get out of the door and alerted a neighbour who called emergency services.
Following a joint investigation between police and fire services, the incident is being treated as wilful.
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The victim has been left badly shaken by what happened and was treated at the scene by paramedics.
Detective Constable, Gerry Hattie, from Wishaw CID: “To deliberately start a fire at the door of an elderly woman is absolutely shocking and extensive enquiries are underway to find the despicable individual or individuals involved.
“There is no apparent reason why this woman would have been targeted and thankfully she had a working smoke alarm to alert her to what was happening.
“She has been left extremely frightened and upset and I am calling on anyone who can assist us in finding out who is responsible to please come forward.
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“The victim’s upper flat is accessed directly by stairs outside the property and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Woodstock Drive in the early hours of this morning, and noticed anyone hanging around or acting suspiciously, to get in touch.
“I would also urge any motorists with dashcams who were in the vicinity to check their footage in case they have captured anything which could be of significance, such as someone running away or a car driving at excess speed."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Wishaw CID via 101, quoting incident number 0323 of Tuesday, April 2.
Alternatively you can call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence.
