A Melbourne tobacco shop owned by notorious underworld identity Sam Abdulrahim has been targeted by alleged arsonists for the third time in less than a month.

    

Good evening. Former bikie Sam Abdul Rahim has been the target of another attack, his Mooney ponds tobacco shop going up in flames for the third time in as many weeks. Families in apartments above the business had to evacuate for hours tonight. 

The men responsible are still on the run. Julian LAN tourist reports a stolen Holden. Cruise set alight used to torch a suburban tobacco shop of the Young street fire is the latest arson attack in what's being described by residents as the turf wall plaguing Mooney ponds. 

The shop is part owned by notorious former bikie Sam Abdul Rahim, who survived an ambush in Faulkner in June last year, where he was shot eight times. Abdul Rahim's family store opened around a month ago. 

In the last three weeks it's been targeted three times. In one instance, the offender accidentally set himself on fire. We are keeping an open mind investigating each incident and trying to establish a motive for each incident. 

Another car belonging to a resident was also destroyed and several people in apartments above were evacuated as the fire raged. Him in my arms first thing and I'm just like, okay, if this gets any worse, then we're out of here. 

Nine news can reveal police are investigating whether the shop fire is linked to a burnt out car found on Fendon Street in nearby Asktvale just 45 minutes later and are probing if another tobacco shop on nearby Puckle street was torched by the same group last Saturday. 

It is very scary, very frustrating. I'm moving out of the area. Abdul Rahim's shop had minor internal damage. The pro boxer continued to put up night today, boasting about resuming trading on social media earlier this afternoon. 

Two weeks ago, police installed this mobile CCTV unit in front of the tobacco shop, but seemingly it has done nothing to deter these offenders. We will be stepping up patrols in the area during the night. 

To protect the businesses and the residents above us. Jillian Lanteris is at police headquarters tonight. Jill, what is the latest on this investigation? Alicia police are on the hunt for up to three suspects and possibly a fourth. 

It's understood, after they torched that stolen car, they fled on foot towards Gladstone Street and haven't been seen since. Residents in the Mooney Ponte area who have CCTV or dash cam are being urged to come forward to police and shed some light on this series of arson attacks. 

Alicia okay, Jewel, thank you.