Torch my Ride: SUV Arson on the rise

[goblue]

Torch My Ride: Arson for Hire
Debt-weary SUV owners unload their gas-guzzlers on insurance companies
By Edmunds.com Editors
Date Posted 06-06-2006
SUV owners who are faced with rising gas prices have found a new way to get out from under their high car payments — arson.

This trend was spotted by a Southern California arson task force in the summer of 2005 when gas prices spiked. At one point, firefighters responding to a report of a vehicle fire arrived at the Los Angeles River Bed to find two SUVs burning at the same time.

Investigators found the arson-for-hire ring involved a new-car dealership in Cerritos, California. Debt-weary SUV owners contacted the finance manager, hoping to trade in their gas-guzzler for something cheaper. They were then put in touch with an arsonist who told them to leave the keys in the ignition and $300 cash in the glovebox. An arsonist would then take the car to a remote location and set it afire. After the car was torched, the owners would then contact their insurance company and report their vehicle stolen, expecting their debt to be cancelled. Instead, they were investigated for insurance fraud.

A sting operation was arranged and an undercover officer posed as an "upside-down" SUV owner who wanted his vehicle burned. "Upside-down" refers to a loan where more money is owed than the car is worth. The vehicle was left at a predetermined location with cash in the glovebox. However, the would-be arsonist didn't know there was a "dash cam" installed in the car to videotape his actions. When the arsonist removed the money and started to drive away, investigators hit a kill switch and triggered the door locks, trapping him inside. Simultaneously, warrants were served on seven other people involved in the arson ring.

The loser in all this is the driving public. "You and I pay for it in our premiums," said Robert Rowe, arson investigator for the City of Downey and a member of the task force. "Insurance premiums for everyone increase when crimes [like this] are committed."

http://cnn.edmunds.com/advice/specia...4/article.html

[TuffG929]

I'm glad this trend hasn't reach the east coast. Most still like to drive their guzzlers. Those who don't either trade them in or keep them parked for longer periods of time.

[SonofaUAWman]

Originally Posted by TuffG929

I'm glad this trend hasn't reach the east coast. Most still like to drive their guzzlers. Those who don't either trade them in or keep them parked for longer periods of time.

very true. My buddy bought a brand new truck in 2005. He only hass 800 miles on it since he couldn't afford the gas for it.

[moman]

Let's hope that these people are all caught and charged with insurance fraud. Just because they made a poor decision to buy a gas guzzler they couldn't afford doesn't mean the rest of us should pay for their decisions.

Originally Posted by SonofaUAWman

very true. My buddy bought a brand new truck in 2005. He only hass 800 miles on it since he couldn't afford the gas for it.

Sounds like poor planning.

[asim]

What the heck is wrong with these guys? "I bought a SUV, knowing the gas milage isn't gonna be great, so let's get rid of all my troubles by burning my car." That is just plain stupid, you dont solve your problem by burning something. I actually wished this happened in Houston, since we have the #1 arson team in the United States. They would have busted these people in no time!

[griswold44]

I hope they find the morons doing this.

[big swede]

Wow I can't imagine people not wanting to take responsability for their own actions.

[01cavalier]

Wow, that is just plain stupid. Most likely they would still have money owed on their burned SUV, I believe insurance only pays out ACV - Actual Cash Value. Add in the costs to insurance companies passed on, and the increased insurance rates that someone with a claim like that would probably have to pay and the legal/moral issues and it makes no sense to me.

[boston boy]

Let's hope that these people are all caught and charged with insurance fraud. Just because they made a poor decision to buy a gas guzzler they couldn't afford doesn't mean the rest of us should pay for their decisions

X2
In MA. 6 years no driving incident is the best someone can be,that is me in 2 months and still kind of high insurance.