How to Deal With Arson

Arson may seem like the perfect way to hide a crime or an easy way out of a financial problem, but it's dangerous territory to tread on and for victims of arson it's devastating. There are many different agencies that are committed to understanding, reducing and prosecuting arson crimes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Know the signs of being an arsonist early. Almost half of crimes involving arson are committed by people under the age of 18. Recognize warning signs early and seek intervention for the person suspected of being an arsonist as quickly as possible to properly deal with them. The most common sign is obsession with matches or lighters.
2. Realize there are several investigation techniques for caseworkers to use and despite the low percentage of arson crimes that are currently solved, these methods are being perfected and more trained professionals are joining forces to help catch arsonists. Some common techniques are analyzing burn patterns, sampling the debris and determining if accelerants were used.
3. Familiarize yourself with agencies that are committed to interventions. Government agencies such as police and fire departments are taking proactive steps to find problem areas and deal with them before an arsonist can get to them. They're also providing education to the community on arson and how to identify risks. Some communities are organizing Arson Task Forces to help deal with the problem and solve cases.
4. Toughen legislation on convicted arsonists. Many times those who are convicted of arson do not face harsh punishment and it's often only fines. Many officials are working to toughen laws that will put arsonists behind bars and hopefully deter many would-be criminals from trying their hand at arson.
5. Become a watchful citizen. Once you're familiar with the crime of arson and its warning signs, keep your eyes open for anything unusual and report it to authorities immediately. Most arson crimes have no witnesses, but if people were educated about the crime of arson, they may be more likely to notice strange behavior and report it before the crime is committed.