Lexington Man Set Fire To Boss's Car, Stole From Company: DA

LEXINGTON, MA – A Lexington man was arraigned Monday in connection with a car fire on Massachusetts Avenue late last week. Mustafa Syed, 50, is accused of setting fire to his manager's car and stealing $800 from Peet's Coffee, where he works, the Middlesex District Attorney's office said.

Shortly after 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, Lexington police responded to the parking lot at 1749 Mass. Ave. for a report of a car fire. The car, a Honda Accord, was completely engulfed in flames, and a nearby van also had some fire damage, according to the DA's office.

Police believed the fire was suspicious because the door of the Accord was left open.

Syed was allegedly seen on surveillance video buying a lighter at CVS about 10 minutes earlier and crouching by the vehicle before it caught fire, authorities said.

The manager had reported $800 missing from a safe in Peet's Coffee to police the day before. Video showed Syed allegedly accessing the safe that day, according to the DA.

Syed faces charges of larceny from a building, breaking into a depository, larceny under $1,200 and burning of a motor vehicle. He was ordered held on $7,500 bail and will be required to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet and have no contact with his manager or Peet's Coffee in Lexington if he posts bail.

Editor's Note: This report was written using information provided by the Middlesex DA's office. It does not imply a conviction.

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