Smoke grenades set SUV ablaze

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Story Published: Jul 1, 2009 at 9:30 AM PST

By Brian Barker KATU News and KATU.com Staff

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BEAVERTON, Ore. - Police are trying to figure out who threw some smoke grenades into an SUV in a Winco parking lot and then took off while the vehicle burned.

The fire destroyed the inside of the SUV and now police are trying to find the arsonists before they strike again.

The incident happened at a Winco store on Southwest Cedar Hills Boulevard in Beaverton. The owner of the truck was shopping with his family when an announcement went over the intercom that a vehicle was on fire.

The man had left the window cracked on his Ford Explorer and police think someone seized the opportunity and tossed smoke grenades inside.

Dave Walker, who was manning a nearby fireworks stand, thinks whoever did it bought the smoke grenades from him.

"We had a couple of customers come in and they bought a couple of smoke grenades and I didn't think anything of it," he said.

Walker said it wasn't long after that he smelled smoke across the parking lot and then there were sirens. The fire had already caused serious damage by the time firefighters arrived. They recovered melted smoke grenades inside the charred SUV.

"We're trying to do this for a good cause and raise money for our church and to think someone did this for a nefarious purpose - that makes me feel bad," said Walker.

The owner of the vehicle was upset and did not wish to speak on camera for fear of being targeted again.

Police say they do not have any suspects.

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