Suspect wanted after trash, cars catch fire in Manhattan

EAST HARLEM, New York (WABC) -- Police are looking for an arsonist who struck twice within a week in Manhattan.

Around 4 a.m. May 5, the suspect lit trash on fire in front of 1516 Lexington Avenue. The fire extended to a parked Mitsubishi before being extinguished.

Around 11:30 on May 9, the suspect lit trash on fire in front of 4940 Madison Avenue. The fire extended to a parked Ford and was extinguished.

Police have released surveillance video showing the man in the act in the May 5 fire. He is seen setting fire to the curbside trash, apparently some cardboard boxes.

The flames spread quickly to the Mitsubishi.

With the fire burning, the suspect then walks away from the scene.

During both incidents, authorities were able to extinguish the fires quickly and no one was hurt.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).