Lossiemouth residents thought they heard gunfire or a plane crash after five cars were damaged by “deliberate” fire

Lossiemouth residents have been woken from their beds after several cars were destroyed by a “premeditated” fire.

Police received reports of a car fire in Fairisle Place around 1am on Friday 6 January.

Three units from Elgin and Lossiemouth attended the incident just after 1am and the fire was extinguished within 20 minutes.

However, the fire quickly spread to five vehicles and three were completely destroyed.

Lorraine Robertson is one of the residents whose car is now unusable.

Unlike most residents on her street, Ms Robertson and her husband Murray slept through the incident and only discovered the damage when her husband got up to walk the dog before work.

“He’s always walking by the car to check for flat tires, the usual and everything was taped up,” she said.

“The cops were all sitting there and I had to go out and give a statement.

“It was over an hour later when it hit and the tears started yesterday and I don’t think they stopped all day.”

Neighbors thought shots had been fired

Ms Robertson said a few neighbors who were awake as the fire continued managed to drive away their slightly damaged cars.

“They said it was terrible,” said the 55-year-old.

“People down the street were outside because they thought guns were going to go off. Someone else said they thought a plane went down.

“Everyone is still a bit shocked. I opened the curtains this morning, saw my car in the parking lot and burst into tears.”

The couple are now struggling to get a rental car through the insurance company, which she needs to get her husband to work in Elgin at 6am on Monday.

She had to cancel the usual two-week shopping trip for her 83-year-old mother in Aberdeen earlier today.

Ms Robertson said she herself and several neighbors believe one of the cars was attacked over drug problems.

She has lived in the area for 12 years and said she considers it a “respectable neighborhood”.

She added: “The worst thing we’ve ever seen is someone let down one of our tires and that’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen and I’ve lived here for 12 years.”

Police are asking for information and surveillance camera footage

Officials said the fire was being treated as premeditated and the investigation was still ongoing.

They urge anyone with CCTV footage of the area or information about the incident to contact the police.

A police spokesman said: “Police were called to the Fairisle Place area of ​​Lossiemouth at around 1am on Friday 6 January following reports of a car fire causing damage to a total of five vehicles.

“The fire is being treated as premeditated and the investigation into the matter is ongoing.

“Anyone with information or potential CCTV footage from the area is asked to contact police on number 101 and quote incident 0103 on January 6th.

“Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous.”