Melbourne printing business targeted by 'arsonist'

The owner of a Melbourne printing business believes envious competitors are to blame for an attempted arson attack that caused $10,000 worth of damage.

Security footage has captured the offender walking into the garage of the Brunswick printing business with a jerry can, before pouring fuel over a pallet of magazines and setting it alight.

The blaze was extinguished by quick thinking neighbor Amit Relhan who doused it with buckets of water before throwing away the burning jerry can.

“There was a big red petrol can right beside the van, I tried to put that off (but) I burnt my foot,” he said.

“I was on fire actually.”

The company’s owner has estimated the damage bill at about $10,000 but believes a rival business could be to blame.

“The business is going - too good,” Andrew McGregor said.

“We're nice people, people can’t compete with nice.”

Police said they were now speaking with rival printing businesses.

Anyone with any information should contact Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000