NYPD patrol car nearly torched in Manhattan

Someone tried to torch an NYPD patrol car in Manhattan — but quick-thinking witnesses managed to thwart the would-be firebug.

The scary incident unfolded just after noon when a man lit a rag on fire and tried to put it in the fuel tank of the vehicle, which was parked at West 42nd Street and 10th Avenue, sources said.

The patrol car was parked at West 42nd Street and 10th Avenue.Peter Gerber

The patrol vehicle was parked in front of a building housing the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group 1, part of the department’s rapid response force — and folks who saw the arsonist in action swiftly alerted a nearby SRG unit.

The officers quickly put out the flames, sources said.

A man lit a rag on fire and tried to put it in the fuel tank of the vehicle.Peter Gerber

The attempted arsonist was described as a black man in his 40s who was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing between 160 and 180 pounds and wearing a black hoodie, light blue jeans and yellow work boots.

Additional reporting by Georgett Roberts

The officers were quick to put out the fire.Peter Gerber