A VANDAL who set a parked car on fire has been filmed accidentally setting himself alight before appearing panic-stricken as he struggled to snuff the flames. Footage shows the man holding a cigarette lighter and a jerry can approaching a vehicle on a residential street, in the early hours of Friday morning. Donning a hoodie and gloves, the unidentified male appears to pour liquid from a jerry can onto the rear window of a stationary car.
![[Nighttime security camera footage of several cars parked on a street.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/instant-karma-moment-man-sparks-972490886.png?strip=all&w=547)
As the alarm sounds, the man seems unperturbed and reaches for a lighter. Within seconds the vehicle appears to burst into flames from the ignition site as a striking light overwhelms the footage. As the man steps back from the glowing fire, his clothes seem to have caught alight. Leaving the sirens and ongoing blaze, the crook can be seen moving quickly as he attempts to extinguish himself. He momentarily runs off screen before returning to hop onto a push bike to make his getaway.
![[Nighttime security camera footage of cars parked on a street.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/instant-karma-moment-man-sparks-972490887.png?strip=all&w=549)
The lit wreckage continues to burn scarily close to other vehicles on either side. Locals were likely unknowingly asleep just metres from the fire with the scene taking place in front of residential properties. The footage cuts out before anyone appears to put out the fire. According to the timestamp on the video, the incident took place around 1:39 in the early hours of February 14. The clip has been posted on social media with the caption: "Man sets someone's car on fire with a jerry can and lighter, almost setting himself on fire in the process (Walthamstow).".
![[Security camera footage of a car fire.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/instant-karma-moment-man-sparks-972491054.png?strip=all&w=560)
It has already been viewed nearly 40k times and has been shared nearly 100 times. The Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade have been approached for comment. It comes after a Love Island star narrowly escaping death after his supercar burst into flames. In an unrelated incident, Danny Bibby, 28, described how he was driving his McLaren 720S at 30mph. The clothing brand owner and former plumber jumped out and tried to extinguish the flames himself, but said the luxury vehicle "exploded in his face".
![[A car engulfed in flames in a parking lot at night.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/instant-karma-moment-man-sparks-972491077.png?strip=all&w=547)
