Police cars torched

Two mufti police cars parked outside officers' homes in neighbouring Wellington suburbs have been set alight.

The Dominion Post today reported an unmarked Holden parked outside a home in Wilton was torched about 2am on Thursday. Soon after, a second Holden parked in neighbouring Wadestown was targeted.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell confirmed the vehicles were parked outside officers' homes, and it was believed the same person was responsible for both arsons.

However, it was not thought specific officers were targeted.

"It's more the vehicles. They're readily identifiable as police vehicles to those who know," Mr Borrell told the newspaper.

"We're pretty satisfied it's not a personal attack but we still do a risk assessment of those people."

One car was badly damaged, while the other received exterior damage.

One of the vehicles was believed to belong to Lower Hutt area commander Richard Chambers but Mr Borrell would not confirm that.

A third mufti police car was set on fire in the Wellington suburb of Thorndon on December 27 but Mr Borrell said it was not believed to be linked to the latest incident.

The Police Association told the newspaper the incidents raised serious security concerns.

"An attack on a police officer is really an attack on society," Police Association president Greg O'Connor said.

"If people start to believe they can get away with attacking society's last line of defence it doesn't augur well for the rest of us."

Forensic examinations of both cars and scenes were being conducted.

- NZPA