Carteret shopping center arson mystifies police

After an arsonist set the Plaza 12 Shopping Center in Carteret afire Sunday, investigators continued their search for a suspect and motive Tuesday. Seven stores in all sustained heavy water damage after

News 12 Staff

Jan 10, 2007, 3:52 AM

Updated 6,488 days ago

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After an arsonist set the Plaza 12 Shopping Center in Carteret afire Sunday, investigators continued their search for a suspect and motive Tuesday.
Seven stores in all sustained heavy water damage after the attic sprinkler system soaked and caused the main level's ceiling to cave in. Police say the assailants entered through an unlocked rear door and lit multiple Duraflame logs on fire in the attic. Medi Center owner Sharon Bartkovich says examination rooms, equipment and hundreds of patient X-rays were damaged. Bartkovich is unsure if restoration work on the X-rays will be successful.
Blockbuster, another one of the affected stores, also remains closed. Electricity hasn't been turned back on, hindering clean-up efforts. Police say they do not know who started the fire.