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Caught On Video: Man Tries To Start 6 Fires At Manhattan Beach School

MANHATTAN BEACH (CBSLA.com) — The public's help is needed to identify a man caught on video trying to start a large fire at Robinson Elementary School in Manhattan Beach.

A man was caught on video walking on the campus, at 80 Morningside Drive, setting approximately six fires on Nov. 17, between the hours of 12:24 a.m. and 1:15 a.m., Manhattan Beach police said.

Police say most of the fires set on the campus only burned for a short amount of time, but that the suspect was captured trying to start a large fire. He managed to set fire to a bulletin board outside a classroom, which burned for about five minutes, police said.

The man was seen in the video sitting on a school bench, watching that fire burn, police said. After that fire burned out, the suspect left the campus.

The suspect was described as a white or Hispanic man between 18 and 35 years old, between 5-foot-5 and 6 feet tall, with a medium build and dark hair. No vehicle was seen, police said.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the crime can call Det. Shawn Thompson at (310) 802-5124.

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