Statement of the Problem
Arson is the willful and malicious burning of a person’s property. In most states it is a crime to burn any building, even if you own it. If you burn a building with the intention to defraud insurance, it is a separate crime (1). In the chart, it shows the rate of arson in Massachusetts versus the national rate. The data ranges from the years 2007 to 2012. In comparison, Massachusetts does not have a lot of cases of arson. The number also stays within a close range around .02, whereas the national rate has been steadily rising.
Recommended Solutions
Arson is not easily stopped, as there are more than one ways to do it. The fire can be started with a person inside or outside, and some use simple things, like lighters, to start the fire. One way to stop the fires, is to have quick and easy ways for people to alert police that a fire has started. If you notice suspicious behavior, it is important to report it, otherwise they may get away. You should never assume someone else will report …show more content…
He was able to start 350 fires with millions of dollars worth of damage. Only two deaths were confirmed, but there may be a total of five. If Sweatt saw an attractive male, he would follow them to their house and set fire to either their car or home. The fires happened in the metro Washington DC area. It wasn’t unlike him to throw a combustible item into the back of a police car to watch it burn. He would often use the same device over and over. He would take a plastic milk jug, fill it with gasoline, then create a wick using a torn piece of fabric. This would cause gas to fill up the jug, eventually cause it to explode. At the scene of a fire in Arlington, Virginia, a pair of Marine dress pants were found matching DNA found on the wicks and a strand of hair found at other crime scenes. When Sweatt was asked for a DNA sample after being watched for a while, he complied and he now serves a life sentence in federal prison
Arson is the willful and malicious burning of a person’s property. In most states it is a crime to burn any building, even if you own it. If you burn a building with the intention to defraud insurance, it is a separate crime (1). In the chart, it shows the rate of arson in Massachusetts versus the national rate. The data ranges from the years 2007 to 2012. In comparison, Massachusetts does not have a lot of cases of arson. The number also stays within a close range around .02, whereas the national rate has been steadily rising.
Recommended Solutions
Arson is not easily stopped, as there are more than one ways to do it. The fire can be started with a person inside or outside, and some use simple things, like lighters, to start the fire. One way to stop the fires, is to have quick and easy ways for people to alert police that a fire has started. If you notice suspicious behavior, it is important to report it, otherwise they may get away. You should never assume someone else will report …show more content…
He was able to start 350 fires with millions of dollars worth of damage. Only two deaths were confirmed, but there may be a total of five. If Sweatt saw an attractive male, he would follow them to their house and set fire to either their car or home. The fires happened in the metro Washington DC area. It wasn’t unlike him to throw a combustible item into the back of a police car to watch it burn. He would often use the same device over and over. He would take a plastic milk jug, fill it with gasoline, then create a wick using a torn piece of fabric. This would cause gas to fill up the jug, eventually cause it to explode. At the scene of a fire in Arlington, Virginia, a pair of Marine dress pants were found matching DNA found on the wicks and a strand of hair found at other crime scenes. When Sweatt was asked for a DNA sample after being watched for a while, he complied and he now serves a life sentence in federal prison