Police are asking the public to help them find a person caught on CCTV who appeared to have lit the NT Oriental Emporium in Coconut Grove on fire last week.

NT Police media manager Rob Cross said in a statement CCTV images from a nearby business appeared to show a person lighting a fire in the early hours of Thursday morning which extensively damaged the business and destroyed stock.

He said police believed the person seen in the CCTV may have been burned and may have sight treatment.

The public are urged to contact police with any information on 131 444 or via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and quote reference number 9444888.

The maximum penalty for arson in the NT is life imprisonment.