Feb. 03--The FBI has doubled to $10,000 the reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for last year's arson at Noble Horse Theatre.
The fire on Feb. 6, 2015, destroyed 13 horse-drawn carriages worth about $130,000, according to the FBI. It also damaged the building at 1410 N. Orleans St. in the Old Town neighborhood.
The FBI announced in May 2015 that it would offer a $5,000 reward for information about the fire, which police and fire officials originally thought was an accident.
But investigators later determined that someone had set fires in two storage areas for the carriages, according to the FBI. None of the horses was injured. Police said at the time that the early morning fire was contained in an area away from the animals.
Investigators found "graffiti typically associated with the animal rights extremism movement" at the scene. Someone spray-painted "Save the horses" and "Freedom" on two walls inside the building, according to the FBI.
In September 2012, a fire damaged five carriages at the stable but didn't injure any horses, police said then. Investigators also designated that fire as suspicious.
The FBI announced that those with information about last year's arson could contact its Chicago office at 312-421-6700.
