Cars go up in flames at West Roxbury auto shop

WEST ROXBURY, Mass. (WHDH) -- Eight cars at a West Roxbury auto repair shop were burned beyond repair early Monday morning.

Authorities said two cars were set on fire just after midnight and the flames spread to the other six cars.

The cars, all Subaru’s, were owned by Nick’s Parkway Auto Repair and Gas on the VFW Parkway in West Roxbury. The small family-owned business has been serving customers in the area for more than 30 years.

The torched cars were parked in a small, fenced-in lot behind the gas station. They were used cars that had just been fixed and were ready to be sold.

Roy Azar, whose father started the business, said they have had small break-ins over the years -- people stealing candy and cigarettes -- not nothing like what happened Monday.

Azar estimates the monetary loss for the business at tens of thousands of dollars.

Many of the shop’s longtime customers and friends said they were appalled someone would do such a thing to a business that has been part of the community for so many years.

“I think people are just awful -- I don’t know what to think about somebody that would do something like that to someone. It’s just uncalled for," said Debra Leahy, a customer.

Azar said he is grateful the flames didn’t spread to the building or his gas pumps. He plans to increase security by adding more lighting and surveillance cameras.