Pre-Fourth Of July Activities Total Mpls. Man's Car
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Minneapolis man woke up Wednesday to see his car had been set on fire and police say fireworks are to blame.
It all happened on Tuesday just before midnight as a security camera rolled.
The fireworks totaled Bobby Wilber's car.
"You don't feel very safe knowing it was before the Fourth or July and this was happening," he said. "What's going to happen then?"
A rental car had to take him to his hairstylist job in Rochester since his old one's become a part of someone's pre-Fourth of July festivities.
"They said it looks like there were fireworks that were let off underneath your car," Wilber said. "I could not believe it."
Cameras rolled on the whole thing outside his home at 47th and Colfax in north Minneapolis. The fireworks burned a hole through his Hyundai's floor, and started a seat and the ceiling on fire.
"I thought 'Oh my gosh, that's a hole in the bottom of my car,'" he said.
There's a burn mark left on the street where Wilber's car used to sit.
Minneapolis police don't think Wilber was targeted but still don't know who did it. Unfortunately, his security system didn't capture anyone on camera.
Wilber isn't just out the car but most of his clothes and work supplies, too, since he lives and works in two cities.
"I already tried washing them three or four times, and it smells exactly the same, like the worst kind of campfire you could possibly imagine," he said.
After seeing what the heat did to his car, he says his feelings toward the Fourth of July have cooled.
"It's kind of soured my opinion, that's for sure." Wilbur said.
Wilbur believes he's out about $800 for his clothes and supplies. His insurance will cover the cost of his car.
Minneapolis police say people should call 911 with any safety concerns dealing with fireworks over these next few days, but if it's a noise complaint they want people to call 311 or make an online report.
To make an online noise complaint, click here.
