The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is seeking to identify a man who was captured on video as he started a fire in an East Vancouver alley.

After 3 p.m. on August 21, a suspect was captured on surveillance video as he was walking in the east lane of Nanaimo Street at Copley Street.

He put his hands into a hedge behind a residence before walking away southbound down the lane. A few moments later, the hedge erupted into flames.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services responded and extinguished the fire. No one was injured but the hedge, two garages with vehicles inside, and a utility pole were all destroyed, amounting to over $100,000 in damages.

The VPD released the surveillance video today (September 6).

The suspect is described as an Indigenous male in his late 20s to early 30s. He may have a slim build and is about 1.8 metres (five-feet, 10-inches) tall.

He has a tattoo on the left side of his neck and may have tattoos on his arms as well.

In the video, he was seen wearing a white shirt, long black shorts, and black footwear, with a black knapsack.

Anyone with information about this arson is asked to call investigators at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.