Seafood Firm Is Hit by Arson and Burglarized

A Lemon Grove seafood company’s temporary office was set on fire early Sunday morning by burglars who also stole fish from the company’s freezer, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Jack Moore, owner of C.O.D. Wholesale Seafood, said: “Whoever did it went deliberately for (the) office and set fire to my bookkeeping computer system.”

Firefighters from San Diego and Lemon Grove responded to the fire at 6302 Federal Blvd. about 1:10 a.m., Sheriff’s Sgt. Conrad Grayson said.

About three hours later, after the fire in the office adjoining the main warehouse was extinguished, investigators found that the building had also been burglarized, said Grayson, who is a member of the department’s bomb and arson detail.

The burglars stole some fish from a freezer, ransacked the office and set several fires in the building before leaving.

Damage to the building and loss of goods was estimated at $55,000, Grayson said.

“I have absolutely no idea why someone would set fire to my business,” said Jack Moore, who owns C.O.D. with his father-in-law, Bill Robertshaw. The wholesale distributor serves numerous restaurants in San Diego, Moore said.

Moore said he was using the adjoining office while the main warehouse was under repair. The company had another fire two months ago, he said.

“Fire officials have told me the first one was a result of an electrical problem. But this one is definitely arson,” Moore said.

“I don’t believe this fire was caused by your average individual off the street,” he said. “They didn’t even try to burn the main warehouse. That’s still standing.”

Moore said he would be open for business today.

The Sheriff’s Department arson unit is conducting an investigation.