Cars set on fire at Santa Monica BMW dealership

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) -- Several luxury vehicles were torched in a suspected arson fire at the BMW dealership in Santa Monica Wednesday night.

Fire crews responded to Santa Monica BMW in the 1100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard at about 10:40 p.m. Four vehicles were deemed a total loss, and one vehicle was damaged.

One witness said she saw a man set the cars on fire at the dealership and called police.

"He doused all of the front vehicles of the BMW dealership, and then he took the lighter and threw it at it, and then he turned back, and he looked back to make sure it was lit up, and then he started running," said Aliza McMillan of Santa Monica.

A man was taken into custody shortly after the fire erupted, but after an investigation, it was determined that he was not the suspect and he was released.

Authorities released surveillance images of the man they are now looking for. Police said the suspect bought $4 worth of gas 20 minutes before the dealership fire broke out. Some nearby workers said the man looked like a transient often seen in the area.

Four cars were destroyed and a fifth car damaged. The damage estimate was approximately $250,000, according to the dealership owner.

No one was injured. A motive has not been determined, and the incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Santa Monica police at(310) 458-8491.