Crime followed a small theft two weeks ago
Gilroy – The fire that hollowed Angel Galvan’s rental home is under investigation as arson, firefighters said Thursday.
According to a sheriff’s report, an unknown suspect entered the house, located at 4425 Hecker Pass Highway, between 10pm and 10:43pm Sunday and set it on fire. Firefighters responded to a call at 10:43pm, and quelled the blaze by 11:15pm. Seven engines were required to put out the flames, which lashed out from the roof and left a shell of the one-story home. South Santa Clara County Fire District, Gilroy Fire Department, and the California Department of Forestry aided at the scene.
Galvan, 28, told investigators that 15 days earlier, a burglar broke in through the back door and stole an undetermined number of coins, but he didn’t report the crime. At the time, he said, it didn’t seem serious.
He didn’t discover the fire until 2am Monday, Oct. 9, when he came back from visiting friends in Hollister. Firefighters remained at the scene until 4:30am. The scope and time of the fire led battalion chief Derek Witmer, South Santa Clara County Fire District, to call an arson investigator from the California Department of Forestry.
Days later, Galvan’s belongings still lay scorched and jumbled in the yard. Nothing he owned was insured.
