A suspicious blaze has this morning destroyed a former Invercargill gang house, whose occupants had only just been evicted.
Local businessman Louis Crimp reclaimed the Mongrel Mob headquarters on Tuesday.
He had planned to leave the house open, so the public could have a look around, but the local council warned people not to enter due to safety concerns.
Meanwhile, people are talking down any suggestions of a gang problem in Invercargill.
Police Senior Sergeant Fred Shandley told RadioLIVE the city doesn’t have a strong gang presence.
“Gang numbers in Invercargill are very small,” he says.
“The abandonment of the pad and the subsequent moving of those members out of town leaves a vast hole in relation to a small gang chapter.”
Fire safety officials will examine the scene this morning to determine how the fire started.
RadioLIVE