Desperate Christchurch residents 'burn homes'
23 Apr 12Some desperate Canterbury homeowners are setting fire to their homes to claim insurance, the Insurance Council boss says.
Arsonists were responsible for 100 fires across Christchurch in March, including 19 in houses or other building structures, Fire Service figures show.
Since September 2010 there have been 1264 deliberately lit fires.
Insurance Council chief executive Chris Ryan said fraud committed by desperate homeowners was behind the increase in deliberately lit fires.
"We have seen it, but not to a great extent ... they have not got enough insurance to cover earthquake damage so they pick up more insurance when a fire happens soon after that."
Ryan said he was not aware of police charging anyone over an insurance fraud case relating to earthquake-damaged homes.
"It's really only anecdotal – but insurers are very much aware there is a degree of fraud – not just in Canterbury – it happens everywhere."
Canterbury Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Sergeant Craig Farrant said he was not aware of any charges against people relating to insurance fraud, however that did not mean suspicious arson cases were not being investigated.
National manager of fire investigation and arson reduction Peter Wilding said while some people may see it as a good option to burn down their house – it was not a realistic option.
"We are aware people are under enormous pressure but it is not a risk people should even entertain. There is a lot of diligence that goes into investigations. They could lose the house and their insurance as well."
Fire risk management officer Mark Thomas said the fire department was not in "crisis mode" but there had been a spike in arsons, particularly in March.
"These empty red-stickered addresses are being targeted and we are aware they are quite likely to be around for several years so we are going to have to monitor them throughout the next three or four years.
"We are keeping in extremely close contact with police. It's always been a good relationship but I think it's better now in terms of trying to really actively work in partnership."
Many of the empty houses were seen as "heaps of rubbish" and arsonists had no scruples about burning them down, he said.
"I believe we have more than one arsonist and I don't believe they are associated with each other in any way. The fear is by talking about it, it encourages people, but people have the right to know and it could benefit us by getting information back from the public."
Arsonists were responsible for 100 fires across Christchurch in March, including 19 in houses or other building structures, Fire Service figures show.
Since September 2010 there have been 1264 deliberately lit fires.
Insurance Council chief executive Chris Ryan said fraud committed by desperate homeowners was behind the increase in deliberately lit fires.
"We have seen it, but not to a great extent ... they have not got enough insurance to cover earthquake damage so they pick up more insurance when a fire happens soon after that."
Ryan said he was not aware of police charging anyone over an insurance fraud case relating to earthquake-damaged homes.
"It's really only anecdotal – but insurers are very much aware there is a degree of fraud – not just in Canterbury – it happens everywhere."
Canterbury Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Sergeant Craig Farrant said he was not aware of any charges against people relating to insurance fraud, however that did not mean suspicious arson cases were not being investigated.
National manager of fire investigation and arson reduction Peter Wilding said while some people may see it as a good option to burn down their house – it was not a realistic option.
"We are aware people are under enormous pressure but it is not a risk people should even entertain. There is a lot of diligence that goes into investigations. They could lose the house and their insurance as well."
Fire risk management officer Mark Thomas said the fire department was not in "crisis mode" but there had been a spike in arsons, particularly in March.
"These empty red-stickered addresses are being targeted and we are aware they are quite likely to be around for several years so we are going to have to monitor them throughout the next three or four years.
"We are keeping in extremely close contact with police. It's always been a good relationship but I think it's better now in terms of trying to really actively work in partnership."
Many of the empty houses were seen as "heaps of rubbish" and arsonists had no scruples about burning them down, he said.
"I believe we have more than one arsonist and I don't believe they are associated with each other in any way. The fear is by talking about it, it encourages people, but people have the right to know and it could benefit us by getting information back from the public."
Source: Stuff
