No hope of saving home

Photo / Duncan Courtier

An arsonist removed the last line of defence for a couple who woke to find their house ablaze, by deliberately sabotaging the garden hose.

The couple woke one night last month to find smoke pouring through their Auckland home.

While the woman rang 111, her husband ran to use the garden hose only to find the adaptor missing.

The arsonist had removed it and placed it over their car aerial.

The couple had to watch their Sandringham home destroyed as they waited for fire engines. Neighbour Duncan Courtier captured the fire on camera.

Investigators believe the arsonist was targeting the previous residents of the rented house.