An unmanned speed van was burned in apparent arson for the third time in two years Thursday night, according to Rio Rancho Police Department.
RRPD Capt. Andrew Rodriguez said officers were called to the fire in North Hills off 17th Street just after 9 p.m. The van was totaled.
“We have evidence that it was not accidental, but it is still under investigation,” he said.
No suspect information was available Friday. Rodriguez said police would work with Red Flex, the company that operates the vans under contract with the City of Rio Rancho, to try to retrieve evidence from the camera in the van, as well as from other sources.
In addition to the three vans burned, he said vans had been vandalized in other manners, such as windows being broken out or the vehicles being egged. He urged people to address disagreements with the speed-van program through the available civil processes, rather than damaging van.
“It serves no purpose,” Rodriguez said of the vandalism.
Red Flex will pay to replace the van. Rodriguez said he expected it to have a replacement in Rio Rancho soon.
