Trending

Woman sets underwear rack on fire at Florida Macy's, police say

OCALA, Fla. — Police in Ocala, Florida, say they are looking for a woman who allegedly committed arson inside a Macy's Tuesday morning.

Officers said the woman entered the department store at the Paddock Mall shortly after 10 a.m. and walked around the store for approximately 45 minutes.

Police said at some point the woman set fire to a rack of underwear.

“It was a bunch of smoke rolling out and people were walking – running outside,” said Kortnee Eubanks, who was in the store at the time.

“The [Macy’s] staff believe that they smelled gas, so we’re not sure if she tried to set the fire to other area and this was just the only area where she was successful. She was in the store for some time,” said Ocala Police spokesperson Meghan Shay.

>> Read more trending news

No one was hurt by the flames.

A message on Paddock Mall’s website Tuesday afternoon said Macy’s will be closed for the remainder of the day.

“The safety of our shoppers, retailers and employees is our top priority. We are working closely with the Ocala Police Department as they investigate this incident further,” said the mall’s website.

Surveillance video from police shows a vehicle in which they believe the woman left. It appears to be a dark gray four-door sedan.

Ocala police ask anyone with information to contact them at 352-369-7000.

>> Watch the surveillance video here

HELP IDENTIFY: ARSON AT MACY’S The woman shown in this surveillance video entered Macy’s at the Paddock Mall at 10:11 a.m. and proceeded to walk throughout the store for approximately 45 minutes. At some point she set fire to a rack of undergarments, and is believed to have left in the vehicle shown in this video. If you have any tips regarding the identity of this person please call OPD immediately at (352) 369-7000.

Posted by Ocala Police Department on Tuesday, October 16, 2018