In Karken on Friday, July 18, a man was observed in a field on Roermonder Straße who knelt down at the edge of the field at around 2.10 p.m. and set fire to the straw lying there, presumably with a lighter. This caused two agricultural fields to catch fire. A total of around 5,000 square meters of straw was destroyed. The fire was completely extinguished by the fire department. The man was of an older age, light-skinned and about 180 centimeters tall. He was wearing short grey trousers and a red and white shirt with a breast pocket.
Also on 18 July, at around 7.40 p.m., an agricultural area of around 400 square meters with already cut straw caught fire on Erkelenzer Straße in Dremmen. The fire department extinguished the flames.
The investigation into whether it was arson is still ongoing.
Late on Friday evening, at around 11.00 pm, a kitchen roll caught fire in a field on the street In der Weide in Millich. Next to the kitchen roll was a pile of branches. Both were in the immediate vicinity of a straw barn, so it can be assumed that this was set alight by the kitchen roll.
The police are now investigating whether the fires are connected. They are also looking for witnesses who may have made observations in connection with the fires. Anyone who can provide information on the identity of the man who was seen setting fire to the straw in Karken is also asked to contact the police crime department in Geilenkirchen on 02452 920 0. It is also possible to provide information via the Heinsberg police website or via the direct link: https://polizei.nrw/artikel/anzeige-hinweis.