KEY POINTS:
Aucklander Chris Cooper knew something wasn't right when he saw two "dodgy-looking guys" sneak up to a campervan in the early hours yesterday, carrying a petrol can.
It was 2.40am and two campervans - one with a family of four including two children sleeping inside, the other containing a couple - were about to be set alight in a senseless act that could have had tragic consequences.
Instead, police are praising the actions of Mr Cooper, 19, and his friend Daniel, 15, who were on hand when the incident unfolded in a carpark near Te Papa, downtown Wellington.
"We were just on our way home when we saw two guys walking towards the campervans," Mr Cooper said. "It was obvious they didn't live in the campervan as they were sneaking around with a petrol canister."
Mr Cooper and his friend hid about 30m away as the pair walked around the back of a campervan, out of view.
But the pair had aroused the suspicion of security guards at Te Papa, and by the time a back tyre on a campervan had been doused in petrol and set alight, a guard was on his way.
The offenders dumped the can and ran off.
Mr Cooper gave chase as Daniel went to the campervans, removed his shirt and beat the fires out.
"I yelled 'Oi!' and took off after them, and another guy who was walking by with his girlfriend saw them and ran after them as well," Mr Cooper said.
Only later did it occur to him that the pair could have been armed and confrontational, or even just champion sprinters. The chase was far less dramatic.
"About 100m later, the other guy caught up and grabbed one of them, and they all just stopped. Out of breath. Given up," Mr Cooper said.
"I grabbed one of the guys by his arm. They didn't say anything, didn't put up a fight. The other chaser said he had to check on his girlfriend and he took off.
"The [guys] were tall, but not that big, dressed in baggy jeans and hoodies. They didn't smell of alcohol but they were on something."
One of the offenders then found renewed energy and started The Chase, Part Two, but security guards soon caught up with him while Mr Cooper kept a firm grip on his catch.
Police were soon on the scene and arrested a 22-year-old man from Porirua, and a 16-year-old Wellington youth.
They were charged with arson and appeared in the Wellington Youth Court yesterday. More charges are likely.
Mr Cooper, who is in the Navy and was in Wellington visiting friends, said he felt good about his actions.
"But I don't really want to skite about it. And I'm not going to start running around being a citizen superhero."
Detective Senior Sergeant Warwick McKee was at a loss to explain why anyone would set fire to an occupied campervan.
"They weren't known to them, as far as we're aware. Obviously if the fire hadn't have been put out, the people inside, asleep at the time, could have died.
"We can't praise them enough."
Police also praised the security staff at Te Papa for stepping in quickly.
They still want to speak to the man who helped Mr Cooper chase down the offenders. The man left the scene before police arrived.
