Modus Operandi by Mauro Corvasce (universal ebook reader txt) 📕

uses vehicle arson to conceal other crimes: stolen cars used during the commission of a crime, or a homicide, for example.

In general, after driving the car to a remote location, the arsonist will completely dowse the interior and exterior of the vehicle with a combustible material such as gasoline or lighter fluid and set the fire. A one- to five-gallon gas can is generally found at the scene. Using five gallons is quite dangerous, and the arsonist may end up like the car because of the flammable vapors that have saturated the area.

The arsonist might make what are known as trailers by pouring a stream of gasoline from the vehicle to a location he feels is far enough away from the vehicle to ignite it safely. These types of fires are easily tagged as arsons because of the evidence left behind. Sometimes, the fire will be started by a road flare, which can easily be thrown from a safe distance into the vehicle.

Vehicle fires for profit or to mask a crime are not limited to automobiles. Small trucks, large trucks, buses, vans, planes and boats all could be set ablaze in the manner described above. The bigger, more exotic vehicles, such as airplanes could be equipped to blow up or ignite while flying. This is done so that a crash appears to be caused by mechanical problems rather than caused deliberately.

In vehicle fires when the insurance money is important, the fire will be started in or near the engine compartment to make it look like an equipment malfunction. If it is to cover up an additional crime or evidence, the whole vehicle will be set ablaze with a flammable substance. The same is true with boats and planes. Often the fire is started from a trailer.

We can all remember the tragic bombing of the airliner over Lockerby, Scotland, which killed all passengers. The incendiary device was placed in a small AM/FM cassette-radio brought onto the plane through a series of elaborate cargo shipping procedures. The radio was placed on one plane in a nonterrorist stronghold where security procedures were weak and did not detect it. Once aboard the plane, the radio was placed with the other cargo, and through either altitude or time delay, the explosives were set off. The small amount of explosives that the radio contained was enough to create a small hole causing the plane to crash.

Arson for Hire

Arson for hire generally involves structure fires. A person owns a building, and for financial reasons, decides it's time to bail out. The owner needs to find an arsonist. He seeks out someone who he feels may be willing to participate in the scheme — he may approach a trusted employee or contact a network of shady characters. A secret meeting is set up with the arsonist.

At the meeting, the professional arsonist will ask for plans of the building, which include sprinkler and alarm systems, types of locks, and hidden, dimly lit points of entry. If there are no secluded entry points, a light may be intentionally left off, so no one can see the arsonist enter the building.

The arsonist usually gives a list of instructions to the building owner to prepare for the arson. In the weeks or days before the fire, the owner will set off false alarms, indicating a problem with the system. This will give him cause not to set the alarm system the evening of the arson.

Another instruction will be to disable the sprinkler system. Sprinkler systems, especially in large buildings, have emergency shut off valves in case of accidental set offs. Most of the time, they are located on an exterior wall or on the lawn adjacent to the building itself. These valves are secured by a chain and padlock. The chain is easily cut with a bolt cutter and the valves closed. This way the fire will not be suppressed or slowed by the sprinklers.

Other instructions to the building owner include ma

lerials the arsonist may need to accelerate the spread of the fire. For example, placing a number of flammable liquids used in the manufacturing process of the company in key locations to spread the fire throughout the building.

Once the arsonist is ready, he will tell the building owner that now is the time to develop a credible alibi and may suggest a weekend trip to the Bahamas.

The arsonist usually sets the fire in the early morning hours for various reasons: less chance of detection because the factory will be closed and traffic will be light on the street, the fire will burn longer before it is discovered, and no workers will be in the building, so loss of lives will be avoided.

The arsonist may or may not break into the building. He may use a key to gain entry or a door will be left unlocked. Once inside, he uses available combustibles along with a device to ensure ignition after his exit from the scene.

Some arsonists may even set up obstacles or devices that will deter the suppression of the fire. These devices could be as simple as chaining fences that the firefighter has to take time to cut open, or positioning chemicals that, when touched by the water used in suppression of the fire, react violently and cause the fire to become hotter and burn faster.

Pyromaniacs

Pyromaniacs are the most complex type of arsonist. They often set large destructive fires with no thought of the consequences. It is believed they enjoy a sort of sexual gratification from starting fires. Their fires are well thought out, almost as well as those of the arsonist for hire, but the pyro-maniac will make all the arrangements for lighting the fire himself. He will study the layout of the building, determine how to disconnect sprinkler and alarm systems, and set traps, not only to slow the firefighters, but to actually hurt them. He will use devices that will make the fire spread quickly and violently. His only intent is to destroy. Pyroma-

niacs are the most