Surveillance video shows man who set Lompoc dentist office on fire

LOMPOC, Calif. - New surveillance video shows a man breaking into a Lompoc dental office and setting it on fire.

In the video, a middle-aged man is shown rummaging through Pransan Parmar's dental office.

It happened around 6 a.m. at a strip mall on H Street a week ago.

“I was informed it was arson, someone set fire to all my patient charts,” said Dr. Pransan Parmar.

The arsonist is seen opening office drawers appearing to be searching for something. And then he starts a fire.

“It looked like a rag was in his hand, then he went straight to the middle shelves behind me and lit it on fire,” said Parmar.

Parmar said he doesn't know the man in the video or why he did this.

The Lompoc Fire Department told us last week the fire could have been worse.

"The fire system sprinklers did keep the fire in check and kept the fire from spreading until crews got on scene," said Lompoc Fire Department battalion Chief Brian Federmann.

Officials say the fire caused extensive damage.

The arsonist is also still on the loose, and Parmar says he is afraid.

“I don't feel safe. This is the first time I put a security system in my home. If they can do this, it's conceivable they can come to my house,” said Parmar.

He also found bullet holes he reported to officials on the side of the building.

“There is a bullet hole in the glass and then there is another one above it,” said Parmar.

He said the officials are investigating if the holes were made by the intruder.

The practice is now closed and Parmar said he will have to start over.

“My livelihood is destroyed, the value of the practice is gone. The charts are destroyed so I can not sell them most likely,” noted Parmar.

The dentist is offering a $500 reward for any information leading to the capture of the man in the video. Anyone with a tip is asked to call the Lompoc Police Department 805-736-2341.

We reached out to investigators for any other updates and are waiting to hear back.