A MOPED was found on fire after a thief’s attempt to hotwire it apparently went wrong.

Police were contacted by the fire service to reports of a moped on fire in an alleyway between Larkhill Way and Grange Farm Avenue in Felixstowe.

The fire – which happened just after 11.30pm yesterday – was extinguished by a resident before it took hold and officers examined the motorcycle and found it had been hotwired.

Police are keen to trace a male seen with the moped. He is described as around 5ft 9ins to 5ft 11ins tall, of slim build and with short hair, and wearing a blue jumper and dark trousers. He left in the direction of Grange Farm Avenue.

The machine was traced to its owner but on route to the address officers discovered a second stolen moped abandoned at the end of Langley Avenue, on the cemetery footpath, that had also had its ignition tampered with.

Investigations are under way and anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or has any information about the incidents should call Felixstowe police on 101.