A PALM tree and a hedge were torched at a Colac home overnight, leaving senior police officers shaking their heads in disbelief.
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Police Sergeant Tim Kerrison said first of the fires was lit at the Cants Road home in Colac about 11pm.
"Unknown persons appeared to have attended at the residential home," he said.
"They have lit up a palm tree in the front yard which caused damage to a nearby metal fence. The same offenders are believed to have returned at 1.30am Friday and deliberately set fire to a hedge at the front of the house."
Sergeant Kerrison said the hedge ran from the nature strip footpath to the home's front door.
"The hedge has been lit up and run along the hedge and was stopped just short of getting into the home's eaves," he said.
"Country Fire Authority volunteers have attended twice and extinguished both fires. They did extensive checks to ensure the fire did not enter the roof space.
"There was some water damage. Inquiries into the cause of the fires are still being conducted by police.
"We would request that anyone with information contact the Colac police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000."
Sergeant Kerrison said lighting fires in the middle of summer was "extremely dangerous".
"It's not good form. We are at a loss to understand why anyone would commit these serious offences or what makes some people tick," he said.