This is a Ring camera video of an unidentified man who reportedly walked around the residence for some time, entered the residence, but did not take anything. Shortly after the last video of him on property, a vehicle belonging to a Birmingham firefighter was set ablaze under suspicious circumstances. You can view the it here which clearly shows the face of man that authorities will want to talk to. You can also leave an anonymous tip with CrimeStoppers. Rewards are offered for information that lead to an arrest and/or conviction.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1avNRaRDKrVHLV-GKL3O4eq9eB_BgfzcU/view
BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Earlier this month, a Ring doorbell camera system at a residence in Birmingham noted suspicious activity, which led up to a vehicle on the property being set ablaze on July 7.
A woman from Millbrook leases a room at this residence as she works in Birmingham during the week. She contacted the EAN for help in putting out the videos in the hopes it will be shared and someone may recognize the person shown so he can be questioned.
The residence has full-time owners as well as multiple renters. An adjacent property also has multiple RVs which are leased as well. Beginning on July 6th, the security system captured 26 different videos of subjects continually driving by the properties which are on a dead end road in a residential area of Birmingham. In some of the videos, one person in particular was captured walking throughout the property, and entering the home. Nothing was taken the owner said.
On July 7 residents woke to a burning vehicle parked on the property. The vehicle belongs to a Birmingham Firefighter who leases part of the home, and his car is a total loss.
In searching back through the Ring system after the fire, the landlord discovered the multiple disturbing videos in the 24 hours prior to the fire.
The landlord has turned over all of the videos to Birmingham Police, and said he is still waiting to hear from a fire investigator and detectives regarding what he believes to be arson.
In what may be unrelated, this morning two Birmingham firefighters were apparently targeted in an attack inside Station 9. Both were shot and sustained serious injuries.
“I just can’t help but wonder if this is all related,” the landlord, who asked not to be identified, told the EAN. “It is just really odd that this happens to a firefighter living with us just five days ago, and now the shootings this morning of two other Birmingham firefighters. We just want some answers, but are not getting much response so far from officials.”
There were six people sleeping inside the home, where the person on video entered, walked around, and the landlord believes was casing the home and property. Nothing was taken or disturbed, but video evidence shows the man with a handgun, and coming back multiple times during the nighttime hours.
“He was here for more than two hours at one point, walking around outside and inside the home,” the landlord said. “That is terrifying to all of us.”
The Millbrook woman who was sleeping inside the residence when the videos were taken, said she finds it all extremely frightening. “To know he walked right by my door to my room, which I always keep locked, and was in the house for so long is mind-blowing to me. But he didn’t take anything. Why was he there? What did he want?”
The landlord said that when Birmingham firefighters and police officers arrived after the initial 911 call July 7, he did not feel as if they were taking his concerns seriously. He said officers suggested the landlord had set the fire for insurance purposes.
“So, I have turned over all of the videos which clearly show other people, and this one man in particular, riding by the house repeatedly, walking around the property and inside the house. I want this to be investigated and taken seriously,” he said.
If you have any information about this fire, or the two firefighters who were shot at Station 11 this morning, please contact law enforcement, or CrimeStoppers. You could receive a reward for information that leads to an arrest in either of these cases.
