Police want to speak to a barefoot man seen riding a bicycle in the vicinity of a Lower Hutt property which was deliberately set alight, leaving a man in his early 80s critically injured.
Emergency services were called to a block of flats on Hanson Grove, Stokes Valley, at 3.10am on Tuesday.
Police revealed earlier this week the fire which left the man, 82, critically injured was the third suspicious one at the property in as many weeks.
The other two suspicious fires occurred on Thursday, October 10 and Monday, October 14.
Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said investigators need the community’s help to identify the barefoot man, who was seen in the vicinity of the flats around the time of Tuesday’s fire.
“Someone in the Stokes Valley community will know who this male is, we believe he will be a local resident.
“We need the community’s help to identify and locate him, or for him to voluntarily come forward and speak with us. This male may be a potential witness and could have seen something or hold information that could assist us identify the person or persons responsible,” Ryan said.
“We also need to hear from any residents who have CCTV footage in Stokes Valley or from any motorists with a dashcam who were travelling though the area during the early hours of Tuesday.
“The victim of the fire is a well-regarded gentleman of the Stokes Valley community; he has lived there for many years and he and his family deserve answers.
“We hope the community can help them with that.”
Investigators also want to hear from anyone who has any information about the three fires on Hanson Grove.
Anyone with information is asked to call 105 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.