Attempted arson at The Coin Cove in Roseville - Fox 2 News Headlines

Cameras in every direction were recording, but that didn't stop a brazen, would-be arsonist wearing a gray hoodie, a mask and carrying a red gas can.  He climbed atop the roof of The Coin Cove on Gratiot in Roseville around 6:00 a.m. Wednesday and tried to set the building on fire.

Since it had just rained and there was a lot of water, the fire basically put itself out right after it started, but police still plan to go after this guy.

"Obviously, if this would've really caught fire, the whole block could have gone up.  It's highly unusual.  If you're going to break-in, you don't do it with a gallon of gas.  It's very, very, very unique, and we've contacted the FBI to see if there [are] any like and similar circumstances in the area or other parts of the country, and so far no luck," said Roseville Police Chief James Berlin.

"I went out to talk to him, and I have a gas can sitting outside by my porch," said Annette Ervin, who had police knock on her door.  "That's what they asked me, is it mine or maybe they wondered if somebody had walked down through there and chucked it out."

Neighbors like Ervin, who was asleep at the time, didn't see anything suspicious.  Police believe the guy may have had a getaway car waiting.  Video shows the suspect jumping off the back of the building and running west on Roberts into the neighborhoods.  Police K-9s weren't able to track the guy.

"The owner has no known enemies, hasn't had any problem with any customers recently, so it's just really a who done it or why they did it," Berlin said.

The owner of the coin and stamp store wants this guy caught and is offering a $3,000 reward to anyone with information leading to his arrest.  If you know who he is, call police.