A man has been charged after he allegedly broke into a recycling centre to steal a large gas bottle and then set a building on fire.
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Emergency service crews were called to Unanderra Recycling and Buyback Centre on Doyle Avenue to find a demountable office unit on fire.
Shortly after 9pm on June 20, NSW Fire and Rescue crews extinguished the fire however the entire structure including a kitchen and crib room was destroyed.
Police established a crime scene and started an investigation into what caused the fire.
Police have accused a 45-year-old man of entering the recycling centre's premises shortly after 8.30pm on June 20.
The man allegedly dragged a large gas bottle from the scene before re-entered the premises to start the fire.
Fire and Rescue NSW Illawarra Duty Commander Andrew Erlik said at the time, a hazardous materials crew was brought in due to a number of gas cylinders located in the business' yard.
The fire was extinguished by 11.30pm.
Shortly after the incident occurred, police arrested a 45-year-old man in Unanderra on unrelated traffic offences.
A 45kg gas bottle from the recycling centre was found in the rear of the vehicle.
At the time of the incident police told the Mercury the fire was being treated as "suspicious".
The man was arrested on Wednesday following investigations by Lake Illawarra Police District detectives.
He has been charged with trespass, arson, larceny, break and enter, and destroy property by fire.
The man will appear before Wollongong Local Court on Friday.
