Fraud of the Week
Arson – Massachusetts
Amount – Unknown
When a building that had been deemed uninhabitable burned and the insured's vehicle was recorded at the building before the fire began, it gave investigators even more reason to look to the insured as the cause. When firefighters arrived at the scene of the fire, they discovered multiple fires on the first floor connected by trailers made to spread the fire. These trailers were made of rope, wallboard joint tape, paper, wallpaper and other combustible materials. These trailers connected to packages of fuel that contained wood, paper and paraffin squares that the insured has sold in the shop when it was operating. Not only that, but parts of the ceiling had been punched through to allow the fire to spread up and into empty spaces above. A candle had been set as the timing device.
When officials reviewed surveillance video from cameras across the street they saw a silver Prius at the building. When the insured's met with officials the next day, they arrived in that same silver Prius. A search of the owner's house turned up several items related to the arson. The insured was arrested on charges of arson, presenting a false insurance claim, and burning a building to defraud insurers.