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Three Arsons Reported In One Week In Ford Heights

FORD HEIGHTS, Ill. (STMW) -- Cook County Sheriff's office deputies are investigating three recent arsons that were reported over one week in south suburban Ford Heights.

The first fire was ruled an attempted arson at a store in the 1300 block of East Lincoln Highway about 5 a.m. Nov. 5, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.

Firefighters put out flames on the store's roof before any structural damage occurred, but there was a strong gasoline odor, police said.

The second fire fully engulfed a home and damaged the roof of another in the 1500 block of Senator Lane about 5:30 a.m. Nov. 9, authorities said.

A third fire was reported about 12:50 a.m. Nov. 12 at a convenience store in the 1400 block of 13th Place, authorities said.

Security camera footage of the third fire showed an unidentified car pulling up to the building, with a person from the passenger side getting out of the vehicle and placing something near or in the window where the fire started, before driving off in the car, police said.

The footage showed two people in dark clothing then returning a few minutes later, walking to the window. The fire then started before the two ran north on Woodlawn Avenue and then turned east on 13th Place, police said.

Police have not determined if any of the cases are related, the statement said.

Cook County Sheriff's deputies are investigating.

Anyone with information on the incidents is asked to call the Cook County Sheriff's investigations unit at (708) 865-4896.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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