John Argento: Police release image of man after rabbi’s car set alight on Christmas morning

Police are asking for the public’s help locating a man after a rabbi’s car was set on fire on Christmas morning.

Victoria Police have released a photo of 47-year-old John Argento and urged anyone who knows his whereabouts to contact Crime Stoppers.

In a statement, a police spokesman described Mr. Argento as someone who could assist police with their investigations.

Emergency services were called to a home on Balaclava Road in St Kilda East shortly before 3am on Thursday and found the vehicle engulfed in flames.

On the roof of the car was a mobile billboard celebrating the Jewish religious holiday of Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah.

According to the Herald Sun, a woman and three children were at home at the time and the vehicle belonged to a rabbi.

According to the spokesman, investigators are asking Mr. Argento to come forward, noting that he has an outstanding arrest warrant for alleged infidelity-related crimes.

“In addition to the arson attack, investigators also want to speak to Argento about a car that was broken into approximately 20 minutes after the arson,” he said.

The spokesman said Mr Argento was believed to have a transient lifestyle in Melbourne’s inner southern and northern suburbs.

He is described as 185 cm tall, of slim build, with blue eyes, gray hair and fair skin.

“We understand the devastating impact this type of crime has on our Jewish community and we continue to prioritize this investigation,” Deputy Commissioner Chris Gilbert said in a statement.

“At this stage we do not believe there is a wider threat to the Jewish community. We would like to thank people in the area for their assistance to this investigation so far.”

Anyone with information about Mr Argento’s whereabouts or CCTV or dashcam footage of the fire is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.