Vandals set fire to old Indy Chicken Limo

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Metro Police are searching for property vandals that set two fires Thursday morning behind an east side business.

It happened at the Antiques at the Corner shop where the suspects set fire to two vehicles including an old relic, a prototype of the Indy Chicken Limo. While the owner is thankful more damage wasn't done, he says enough is enough.

The two damaged vehicles, the old Indy Chicken Limo and a cargo van, were both gutted by fire between one and three Thursday morning.

Ernie Shearer owns the antique shop and the vehicles.

"I'd like to find out who did it basically. We've been having some problems in the area with vandalism and graffiti," Shearer said.

The Indy Chicken Limo, which Shearer got quite some time ago, is an old prototype for the ones currently seen around town. While it hasn't been drivable for years, Shearer did use the van for deliveries.

The fires are the latest in a string of damage done to the property. Shearer says vandals have also sprayed graffiti all over a bus he owns.

While his business will survive the damage, Shearer is concerned about how close the fires were to his shop.

Lynne Ledbetter lives next door to the shop. She's also concerned about the rash of vandalism.

"We're getting a lot of trouble in the hood," said Ledbetter. "Because they could've gotten our cars, they could've gotten all these businesses around here.”

Shearer estimates the damage at about $5,000.

Both fire and police investigators are working the case.