DALLAS --
Dallas police and firefighters announced on Monday that they are joining forces to combat a rash of 21 car fires ruled arson since Feb. 28 in Oak Cliff and south Dallas.
Additional forces will be in the areas where the fires have occurred, Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle said in a Monday news conference.
"On the police side, we've taken this as a very, very high priority," he said.
Police said they are investigating the latest fire, a marked squad car that was set ablaze in front of a constable's home early Monday.
"This is the straw that has broke the camel's back," Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway said.
Caraway said the city has been "pushed up against the wall" and must respond.
Firefighters arrived at the constable's home in the 1400 block of East Ninth Street in South Oak Cliff at about 2 a.m.
"This was not an accident," Sheriffs Offices Raul Reyna said. "This was intentionally set."
Investigators said the fire is very similar to nearly 18 other car fires near the Dallas Zoo over the past few weeks.
"The fire marshal is going to be investigating like all the other incidents," Reyna said. "It does seem to be a trend."
Police said arsonists have used gasoline or a Molotov cocktail to do about $87,000 worth of damage.
Dallas police said they will step up their marked and unmarked patrols in the neighborhoods that have been hit the hardest.
"We are going to stop this vigilante act that is going on in our community," Caraway said. "It will not be tolerated."
Police said they are not sure if the same people are responsible for all 21 fires in the last month. Investigators are looking into the possibility that there are copycats.
Investigators said they are looking for two people seen leaving the area at the time of Monday's fire.
A reward from North Texas CrimeStoppers for $1,000 has been increased to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest.
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