Arsonist Torched 2 Upper East Side Businesses: Police

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Police are asking the public to help to identify an arsonist that has set fires at two Upper East Side businesses causing property damage, officials told Patch. The alleged arsonist first struck in July, but then again a week later in August.

The arsonist's first target was La Mode Organic Cleaners on the 500 block of East 82nd Street between York and East End avenues. The unidentified man intentionally set fire to the front of the store on July 26 around 2:23 a.m., causing property damage, but no injuries, police said.

The pyro struck again a week later on August 3 around 4:24 a.m. This time the man intentionally set fire to the front of Gentlemen's Resale on the 300 block of East 81st Street between 1st and 2nd avenues, police said. Again the building experienced property damages but nobody was injured.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577. All tips are confidential.

[Photo: NYPD]