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University Daily Kansan
Friday, December 7, 1979
Lawrence arson problem reflecting national trend
By JENNIFER HOLT
Staff Reporter
America's fastest growing crime is a mirror image of inflation, economic woes and 30th century pressures. For the first time, homicide rates are among the seven worst crimes in the United States.
That crime is not murder, not kidnapping,
not embezzlement.
its *arson*-setting firms thrills, spills, revenge or profit. Deliberately set blazes account for at least one-half of all annual fires in the United States.
Three deliberately set fires in 1979 caused $311,000 in damages, according to Lawrence Fire Chief James McSwain.
Mowain said the total losses to arson in Lawrence in 1979 had surpassed that of previous years. About $225,300 has been lost since his year, compared with $8,000 in 1978.
"We're in such a predicament when it comes to arson cases," he said. "Our team's response is to have people here quit to work on the case; there is no full-time or cooperative city or county arrest investigator in Lawrenc, and we don't have any people devote full time to the job without interruptions, especially when we need to keep following up on a case."
ACCORDING TO FIGURES compiled by the National Fire Prevention Association, the 1978 national property loss to arson was less than 20 per year for an arson, as well as the number of arson cases, has doubled every four years. The increased cost can partly be explained by inflation.
"That's a hell of a figure-what if it doubles again?" McWain asked.
A fire that destroyed two downtown north
Miami streets buildings in September
destroyed the Riverside Properties
of $7,000. Lawrence in April took
$6,900, according to a man-
mern. Both fires were ruled arson.
Stevenmerton lit the arson investigation for
the fire.
SO FAR THIS year in Lawrence, 24 arson cases have been reported to the Lawrence Fire Department, compared with 13 in 1978. Stemmanmard said. Six cases were cleared by arrests, five arrests of juveniles and one arrest of adults years old, he said. She was arrested for aggravated arson—setting her parent's house on fire.
"We've got the gear, the detectors, the cameras and the know-how," McSwain said. "We simply need more manpower."
The added expense of an arson investigator would only be in the salary, he said.
Federal funds and grants have been set up through the Law Enforcement Assistance Program to help cities like Lawrence, McSwain said. But the grants pay for new equipment, not for the salary of fighting equipment, not for the salary of needed manpower and investigators, he said.
THE SEVEN primary motives for arson are revenge, hiding a crime, jealousy, vandalism, terrorism, profit and fraud. The threat to the easiest to detect, Steerman said.
However, the largest motive for arson in Lawrence appears to be small fires vandalism, he said.
"The vandalism-type fires need more attention," he said. "It's more important to solve these before the prank injures someone."
But sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between a prank and a professional jobt术. Shermanmur noted that the good technique can be used, but use intricate techniques shown on TV.
MOST AMATEUR ARSONSSTNIS fail to destroy what they torch—and that is the biggest distinction between them and a pro, who generally totals the building.
Conviction for arson is a Class B or C conviction. Stermerman said Class B convictions are more common, hurt as a result of the fire—and Class C is a regular arrest case, in which a vacant house owner was convicted.
The sentence for conviction of a Class B felony is a minimum of five to 15 years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment.
Imprisonment for a Class C felony is one to three years minimum and 10 to 20 maximum.
Robert Johnson, insurance agent for Landreth, McGrew and Johnson, 901 Kentucky St. said, "It's virtually imme- diate to get an insurance broker for financial crime and extremely profitable. It's difficult to put the blame where it belongs."
HE SAID ARSON in Lawrence was not at epidemic levels, but added that combined forms of arson made it a plague at the national level.
"As insurance agents we see the two main
causes of arson to be the property owner who burns a building for the profit motive, and the pyramidian who burns for revenue." he said.
Johnson did not discount the economy as a factor in the increase of arsen in recent years.
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"It is an absolute fact that arms increase during an economic downturn—when investors are suddenly chanched is not selling," he said. "It follows as night dove day and we see more arsenal on the ground."
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"But I'm not saying that all business fires are arson. Some may be suspicious looking, thouah."
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Stemmerman said most business fires occurred at the end of a sale and on a weekend.
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Arson in Lawrence never has been or will be a great problem, he said, "There's much more to it than just trying to make Lawrence than in a big city. I mean, wouldn't want my neighbors to think I would have any problems."
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He added that a town like Lawrence could go two to three years without a suspected arson case.
PAYING FOR ARSON claims is a no-now situation, Johnson said. Not enough people recognize an arson as a problem to warrant the arrest. But in some cases, directly, everyone pays for higher costs of insurance, he said. Rates are computed on the losses experienced in each community.
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However, records show 83 recorded arsons from May 1, 1972, through April 1, 1979.
ACCORDING TO Larry Ewinger, KU detective sergeant, and Jean Longaker, KU community services lieutenant, all KU firefighters. He was sent to the Fire Department. This means that the 14 reported KU arsens up to Nov. 30 of this year were filled into city and national police bases.
"We've had no major fire this year such as the one at McCallum Hall two years ago," Evinger said. "The fires range anywhere from burning of show curtains and doors."
Investigation by fire departments, in general, also has increased and improved over the years. McSwain said.
Because many of the arson cases are still under investigation, 1979 total KU arson costs cannot be determined yet, Longakake said. The company will release 31 false fire alarms this year.
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"People are finally realizing how dangerous fire and arson are," McWain said. "We've advanced in our investigation, but we still have more fires and arson."
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