Petrol-pouring arsonists set fire to a car and home while a family and two young children slept upstairs.
Firefighters were called to Doulton Court, in Coxhoe, on Saturday after the front door of a detached home was set ablaze at around 12.30am.
Two suspects poured petrol over the family’s white Mercedes and the front door and set them on fire, causing “considerable damage” to two cars and the home’s front.
The family, who were upstairs at the time, thankfully escaped uninjured and fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze.
Durham Police has now launched a probe, saying officers believe the “reckless” arson attack was a case of mistaken identity.
Police are now studying CCTV and carrying out house-to-house enquiries in the area, but are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious at the time of the incident to come forward.
T/DC Lovelass said: “This was a completely reckless arson attack, which placed an innocent family with young children at risk.
“We do not believe that this was a random incident, but it appears that the wrong address has been targeted and a young family has been put at serious risk.
“Thankfully, they were able to escape and raise the alarm before the fire spread, but it could have been much worse.
“If anyone has any information about who is responsible, they should contact us immediately.”
Anyone with information should contact Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 27 of July 26, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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