Police reenact arson at Hollywood shopping plaza

3 arson attacks in 3 years in shopping plaza

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Investigators hope reenacting arsons at the Emerald Center shopping plaza leads them to the duo suspected of three attacks in three years.

Broward Crime Stoppers reenacted the arsons by using men who matched the description of the suspects. The latest attack, on Sept. 29, burned the inside of Pita Grill and damaged the Allure Salon next door.

"One of the arsons, they walked in, they set the kitchen on fire, and then they run out of the business," said Lt. Osvaldo Perez. "On the last arson we had, which was recently, they actually break in through the front window and they throw in a Molotov cocktail and both businesses are set on fire."

"I come in here and it was like a war zone," said Michael Katz, the first victim of the serial arsonists, who set fire to his Judaica store in December of 2011.

While police haven't released a motive, owners have noted that the businesses in the plaza are owned by Jewish people. But Katz doesn't believe the arsons are motivated by hate.

"Anti-Semites leave calling cards They want to make sure we know it's anti-Semitism," he said.

Anyone with information on the arsonists is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.