A Norcross home destroyed by fire may be a case of burglary and possibly arson, Gwinnett County fire investigators said Thursday.
On Monday, Gwinnett firefighters responded to a house fire in the 5700 block of DeKalb Lane.
The circumstances surrounding the blaze appear suspicious, fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said. The home may have been burglarized, and then set on fire.
One witness told investigators that the back door was standing open when they went around back to see if anyone was inside the burning home, however the heat and smoke prevented the witness from entering.
The rooms were found ransacked, but investigators said they don’t know if anything was taken.
Other witnesses reported seeing three men, possibly older teens, in the area earlier in the afternoon. They were riding bicycles while wearing backpacks about 50 minutes prior to the fire being reported, Rutledge said.
Witnesses gave investigators a photograph of the teens, who they said are unknown in the neighborhood.
The teens are believed to be potential suspects based on witness information.
The fire investigators said in a statement that they are working with Gwinnett County burglary detectives to try and identify the individuals, and to see if they are connected to other crimes in the area.
Another fire occurred on Brooklyn Lane the same afternoon, however the fire on DeKalb Lane is the only blaze at this point that is connected to burglary. Both cases are still under investigation.
Fire investigators are asking anyone with information to please contact the Gwinnett fire investigators at 678-518-4890, or the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1.800.282.5804.
Georgia Arson Control, Inc. offers a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction.
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