CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Burglar catches on fire trying to set RV park office ablaze

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — Deputies are looking for a man who they said broke into a Catawba County RV park office and tried to set it on fire -- but ended up lighting himself on fire following an apparent explosion.

The entire incident was captured on security video.

It happened last Saturday at Lake Norman RV Park on East NC Highway 150, near Sherrils Ford. Firefighters were called around 1 a.m. and when they arrived, they found the business office engulfed in flames.

Video footage from the office’s surveillance system shows a person dressed in black pants and a black hoodie with the hood pulled over their head walking up to the business office. The suspect was also wearing a white face mask and can be seen carrying a pry bar and a red gas can.

The man then broke into the business office and doused it with some type of accelerant. At some point, the suspect tried to ignite the office on fire, but an explosion is seen on the security footage.

The suspect can then be seen running around on fire, and eventually running away from the office as he tries to extinguish himself.

The video shows the man in the parking lot, trying to pick up a bag of money taken from inside the business office before the fire was ignited. The bag of money is also on fire.

The footage also shows a vehicle waiting along the road with someone else behind the wheel. Investigators said that is the getaway vehicle.

Investigators are still looking for the suspect but said the man most likely suffered burns.

Anyone with information should call the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office at 828-464-3112.

(WATCH BELOW for full security video footage of the incident)

SECURITY VIDEO: Burglar catches on fire trying to set business ablaze

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