A takeaway-toting fire-raiser set light to a wheelie bin outside a Dundee undertakers before casually strolling away from the scene of the crime.
CCTV footage caught the man, described as “well dressed”, setting fire to the blue bin at Affertons Funeral Care on Clepington Road.
He was filmed walking along the road and then into the yard at the rear of the building, before taking out a lighter and setting fire to the bin.
When the flames finally caught, he casually strolled back onto Clepington Road and tucked the lighter into his sock before walking off.
The blaze started at 3am on Sunday when no one was around to report it to Scottish Fire and Rescue so it was left to burn itself out over three hours.
Scorch marks from the fire reached up more than 10 feet on the side of the building.
Funeral direction Paul Craigie, 50, said it was lucky the fire had not reached the roof, where it could have caused the building to go up in flames too.
He said: “I came in on Sunday to do some work and went out to the rear of the premises.
“When I went out the the blue bin had completely burned away.
“Luckily, I had moved it up to the back of the property. It had been by the doors, which are made of wood.”
Mr Craigie said the business was covered by CCTV, so he was able to capture footage of the man he believes responsible entering the yard.
He said: “You see him walk along the road about three in the morning and then he disappears round the back of the shop.
“There’s a camera at the back and although the lights were off, you see him try the lighter two or three times until he gets the bin on fire.
“He then comes round the front and it looks like he tucks his lighter in his sock and walks away.”
Mr Craigie said he did not know why the man had targeted the undertakers.
“It was three o’clock in the morning so it’s very, very odd,” he said.
“He looked quite well dressed and appeared to have a carrier with what looked like a takeaway in it.”
Mr Craigie added: “My daughter worked at Mill O’Mains pavilion and that burned down after someone set a wheelie bin on fire and she was out of a job.”
Mr Craigie said the area behind the shop and other units on Clepington Road was often plagued by anti-social behaviour, despite being next to a play park.
“You see people urinating or even defecating,” he said.
Police are investigating the incident.
A spokesman said: “Initial indications are that the fire, which started in a bin, may be deliberate. If you were in the area and were aware of anyone acting suspiciously, please call 101. Our reference is incident 1736 of Sunday.”
