The reasons for Arson explained

Why does Arson occur? Is there more to meet the eye when it comes to Arson Investigation?


There are various reasons why Arson attacks take place in communities worldwide and Forensic Scientists are being called in to analyse Arson Crime Scene on a regular basis to provide expert witness reports on just why an Arson has taken place. Our trained team of forensic arson investigators have pieced together the following reasons behind most Arson Investigations in the UK today:

Insurance Fraud and Financial Embezzlement

A growing trend during a recession, Arsonists often see insurance payouts on their house, place of work or vehicle as a quick easy way of making alot of money, particularly if the market value of that asset is lower that the amount it is insured for. It’s common when analysing Arson on properties that Arsonists regularly try to file an insurance claim on valuables they actually removed from the building prior to setting it alight in an effort to receive a payout from an insurance company for contents aswell as buildings cover.

Hiding evidence and covering tracks.

The phrase “torch the evidence” is often associated with Arsonists using fire to cover up a crime such as theft, fraud or even murder. Even through torching a building to hide evidence, significant advances in forensic analysis technology have provided expert witness analysis to uncover evidence that arsonists may have aimed to destroy. Forensic Resources often provide trace analysis, DNA Analysis, Footprint Analysis, Arson Investigation and Fibre Analysis during an Arson Investigation just to establish the reason the arson was caused and what other evidence may be on site to be investigated.

In the case of embezzlement, an embezzler may use fire to burn up company financial records or an employee who stole merchandise from a company warehouse may hope that the fire will hide this indiscretion.

Psychological Reasons

A person who is considered mentally unstable or has a pathological interest in fire may start a forest fire simply because he/she finds it fascinating. The resulting destruction satisfies the persons deep psychological need. This kind of fire-starting often occurs in the Australian outback and if repeated several times by an individual it becomes a habitual offense.

Motivation through Revenge

A common occurrence in the United States, an Arsonist is often motivated to commit arson in revenge for a grudge or deep hatred for another individual. This revenge could lead to an arsonist setting alight someone’s house, place of work or car.

Arson Suicide or Murder

In extreme circumstances Fire has been used as a means of carrying out suicide or murder, but often this theory is questioned as Arson is simply too painful for suicide and too unpredictable for murder. Forensic analysis of dead bodies found in arson cases usually present findings that the person was killed before the fire was set alight.

Terrorism

The most extreme cause of Arson, Terrorism is somebody, or some group that wish to cause hard to a large amount of the population through a series of large scale arson attacks to make a statement or justify a political stance. Terrorists are known to set building alight and destroy buildings, cars, houses, or flags to induce panic or make a political statement.

Need to know more information on Arson investigation and Forensic Fire Analysis?

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