FINGERPRINTS of a suspected thief were found on a scorched car which was mysteriously stolen and set alight.

Officers from Basildon’s local policing team and crime scene investigators were alerted to the smouldering wreck of a blue Ford Focus in Malyons Green, Pitsea, by the fire service.

Firefighters were tasked to extinguish the blaze shortly before 2am on Tuesday after members of the public raised the alarm.

The fire service asked the police to investigate after suspecting the blaze was deliberately started by arsonists.

When officers traced who the car belonged to, they discovered that it had gone missing that same evening from outside a home in nearly Winfields.

Crime scene investigator Vikki Jones, who is based at Basildon police station, was tasked to analyse the stolen car to see if the thieves had left any forensic evidence - which proved successful despite its burnt out state.

She said: “We got a call at 1.40am to say that they had gone to a car that was on fire.

“We found out who the car belonged to and where the victim lived and some PCSOs did a call at her address.

“She said that her car was not where it should be, but there was no sign of a burglary. It does not look like anyone has broken into her home.

“At the moment, we are not sure how it went missing.”

Miss Jones told how they car was destroyed by the blaze.

She said: “The interior was completely burnt out.

“The passenger side had more burning to it than the drivers’ side.

“I went down because there was still some bodywork that hadn’t been damaged and fortunately I found a fingerprint on the door.”

The lifted fingerprint has been sent off for analysis as the police try and determine who it belongs to.

So far, no arrests have been made and enquiries into the car theft and arson attack are continuing.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101, or independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. A form can also be filled out via crimestoppers-uk.org