IRVINE : Stolen Car Found in Flames at School

A Mercedes-Benz stolen just after midnight Monday was found two hours later engulfed in flames on the campus of Springbrook Elementary School, police said.

The car’s owner, who had left it idling in front of his home, reported it stolen at 12:16 a.m., Police Lt. Al Muir said.

“The owner said he had gone out and started the car, then went back into his home for a moment,” Muir said. “When he got back out, the car was gone.”

At 2:55 a.m., neighbors near the elementary school, at 655 Springbrook N., called the Fire Department after they saw smoke coming from the direction of the campus.

Firefighters and police found the stolen Mercedes engulfed in flames between two school buildings and extinguished the blaze in about 10 minutes, said Orange County Fire Department spokeswoman Kathleen Cha.

School is not in session, and classes will not be affected by the fire, which scorched the sides of the two buildings but caused no internal damage.

The fire, which officials said was deliberately set, caused about $16,000 in damage to the buildings and about $14,000 in damage to the car, Cha said.

Police were still investigating the incident, which they said appears to be a random crime of opportunity.

“The car was fully paid for, and we have no indication that anybody had a grudge against the owner,” Muir said.