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A man dressed in a bull onesie and his accomplice were arrested after allegedly attempting to burn down their ex-lover's house by leaving pasta sauce on a hob.

Derrick Irving, 36, and John Silva,38, were caught red handed by police when they attempted to break into a home in DeLand, Florida on March 13.

The men tried to steal a flat screen television before leaving a pot of Ragu sauce and a washcloth near the stove in an attempt to start a fire, WKMC-TV reported.

The victim alerted police to the break in when his residence’s security system notified him of motion in his house, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said.

When officers arrived at the scene the suspects were seen attempting to flee the residence, police said.

The victim told WKMC-TV that Mr Irving was dressed in a bull onesie.

He said he believed that the victim’s placed the Ragu sauce near the stove in an attempt to make it look like he left the stove on.

"He was trying to make it look like I left the stove on but who gets up at 2 am and fixes skett?” he said.

Police said the suspects said they knew the victim due to past sexual encounters.

The victim told WKMC-TV: "It started out as a relationship that lasted about a week."

“I've let him use my car for four months, maybe he's angry about that. Or maybe he's angry because I gave him $150 to fix his teeth," he continued.

Mr Irving and Mr Silva were charge with unarmed burglary, grand theft and arson.