Hans Broks is disappointed when he looks at the burnt-out wreck of his car in the Sluiskeshoeven on Tuesday morning. “I only had that car for about five months. And I only moved here a few weeks ago, and already this,” he sighs. On Monday evening, Hans’ car and two vans caught fire in Rosmalen, all within a radius of one kilometer.
Local residents heard a loud bang on Monday evening. Shortly afterwards a major fire followed. Hans had not heard anything himself, but neighbors told him that a car was on fire, and it could very well be his car. That turned out to be the case. “I’m disappointed, of course,” he responds.
According to Hans, it would be arson. “A report has been filed and the police are investigating,” he says. Furthermore, he has no choice but to look for another car: “Or at least arrange for other transportation.”
The first van caught fire at around half past nine at the Brabanthoeven, followed by Hans’ car, which caught fire five minutes later at the Sluiskeshoeven. Then, around half past ten, a van on Huygensstraat was hit. “Three in a row, you can assume that is no coincidence,” says Hans.
Ad van Venrooij’s bus also suffered the damage. “It just happens. I have no enemies,” he responds matter-of-factly. Ad expects his bus to be a total loss. “I don’t think you can do anything with it anymore. It will be towed away immediately. Then I’ll clean it up and continue.”
A local resident calls the situation scary as she looks at the second burned-out van. “It’s getting very close, which is scary.” Yet she is not worried. “I think it’s his fate. I hope I’m spared it.”
The police report that a 46-year-old man from Rosmalen was arrested for the car fires on Monday evening. He is being held for further questioning and investigation.
