Richardson resident Kelly Wards, whose father's car was torched in her front garden, said her brother was woken by a loud noise about 1am and saw the car on fire. The fire brigade arrived within minutes.

Ms Wards, who had extended family visiting and several cars parked outside her house, said a neighbour's car was also stolen and set on fire in a nearby street.

Although the children found the night exciting, Ms Wards said the adults in the house were quite worried.

''We are all on edge ... I am nervous [and] wound up, scared they will come back, that something else is going to happen,'' she said.

Another resident said,''I heard the loud bang, my husband went outside and saw the flames [and] he saw three teenagers running away.''

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times