STOCKTON, CA - Residents in a south Stockton neighborhood were awoken just after midnight on Saturday when a BMW police suspect was deliberately set on fire exploded.
"My Mom was like what was that, I was like I don't know," said Fateh Singh.
Singh said he looked out his window to see his neighbor's BMW burning. "I thought if it had gotten to the gas tank, , it would have been alot worse."
He and other neighbors quickly called 911.
Stockton firefighters responded and extinguished the burning car, leaving behind the charred shell of what was once a very expensive vehicle.
Lt. Jernigan of the Stockton Police Dept. said firefighters discovered a gas can near the car in the ensuing investigation.
"It's like jealousy, they see they have nice cars and they have nothing. Dude was on a bike so evidently he's jealous," said neighbor Anthony Medina.
Several neighbors said they saw a man on bicycle light the BMW on fire, and then ride away.
Stockton Police described the suspected arsonist as a black teenager wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. The 6 series BMW was worth more than $70,000.
"It's crazy what people do to each other's property for no reason, it's like why?," said Medina.
That's a question Stockton police and arson investigators are trying to answer.
News10/KXTV