Autoblog

French continue New Year's arson tradition by torching 1,193 cars

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:59:00 EST

Just because the French government stopped divulging the number of cars set on fire during New Year's Eve doesn't mean French youth have stopped enjoying the pastime. In 2009, the year before Nicolas Sarkozy took control of Elysées Palace, there were 1,147 cars burned on NYE. This year, the new government of François Hollande - a proponent of transparency in such matters - reports that there were 1,193 cars flambéed a few nights ago.

Some watchers have criticized the French government for going public with the numbers again, saying it only encourages gangs to compete with one another. It is intriguing that there was a four-fold increase after 2008: In 2007 there were 397 cars burned, in 2008 just 372 were torched. However, with suggested reasons for the pyromania including protest, removing the evidence of crimes and false insurance claims (and with the numbers not having changed much from 2009 during three years of silence), "to tell or not to tell" doesn't really appear to have had that much impact on the situation. And that means the Gauls should probably expect more of the same next year, oui?

French continue New Year's arson tradition by torching 1,193 cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PA couple accused of trying to blow up Ford Fusion with flaming tampons

Zach Bowman — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Ford

Two Pennsylvanians recently found themselves in trouble with the law after vandalizing a 2006 Ford Fusion in a decidedly inventive manner. Patricia and Quentin Deshong, 25 and 22, respectively, are staring down the barrel of charges ranging from attempted arson to public drunkenness, criminal mischief and making terrorist threats. The Deshongs reportedly broke or cracked multiple windows in the vehicle, ripped various hoses from the engine bay and attempted to set the vehicle ablaze by sticking lit tampons into the fuel tank and oil cap. They were not successful.

Investigators aren't certain why the Fusion found itself on the raw end of the Deshongs' rage. The vehicle is owned by 25-year-old Falon Clark, and while Clark and Patricia Deshong are reportedly Facebook friends, Clark's page states she's currently "lookin for some revenge..."

Gary Boggs, a friend of Clark's, told Pennsylvania state troopers Patricia Deshong threw a beer bottle through the back glass of his Ford F-150, though it's unclear when that incident happened or how Boggs knows the Deshongs.

After officers arrived on the scene, the Deshongs were found to be under the influence of alcohol and Patricia had the license plate and registration to the damaged Fusion on her person. She was charged with theft as a result. Both individuals were then released after they each posted a $25,000 bond, but not before Patricia took the time to threaten that she was going to "f***ing kill" a trooper," landing her the terrorist threat charge.

PA couple accused of trying to blow up Ford Fusion with flaming tampons originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Police arrest man for rash of car burnings in Berlin

Zach Bowman — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Safety, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Police/Emergency, Luxury

The BBC reports that a man has been arrested in connection with over 100 vehicle fires in Berlin. Police have indicated that an unemployed 27-year-old took to arson in response to his own debts and jealousy toward individuals with luxury cars. The suspect set fire to a total of 67 vehicles over a span of three months, with an additional 35 cars caught fire as a result. Berlin has suffered a surge in luxury vehicle fires, with over 470 cars torched in the city just this year. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles have all suffered the brunt of the burnings. The activity has raised concerns about the possibility of growing political extremism in the area.

Recently, a left-wing group calling itself the Hekla Reception Committee took credit for placing a number of explosive devices in train stations around the city, including at least one device on a section of high-speed rail. The group's motivations remain unclear at this point, and it's uncertain whether or not the HRC is tied to instances of vehicle arson.

Police arrest man for rash of car burnings in Berlin originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burning cars filling up Berlin streets

Zach Bowman — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Government/Legal, Safety

Berlin is facing a rash of vehicle arson this year with more than 320 vehicles set ablaze in 2011 so far. Authorities claim that at least 140 of those incidents have been politically motivated, with the arsonists leaving notes at the scene. Those crimes have targeted luxury makes like BMW and Mercedes-Benz as part of growing unrest among Germany's lower classes. The notes typically contain some sort of anti-gentrification message. As for the rest of the torchings, law enforcement says those crimes are largely copycat in nature or simply vandalism for vandalism's sake.

Nationwide, Germany is facing unemployment of around seven percent while Berlin deals with nearly double that figure at 13.5 percent. Most of the fires take place at night, all but ensuring that criminals get away without fear of being caught. The city's police force has escalated patrols and added helicopter surveillance, but with over 3,000 miles of city streets to cover, the police department can't be everywhere at once. Thanks for the tip, Toy Yoda.

Burning cars filling up Berlin streets originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Tough times yield more insurance fraud cases

Michael Harley — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

They're called owner "give-ups," and their rise is a sign of the tough economic times. Despondent over being financially strapped and unable to cover car payments, vehicle owners are ditching, sinking, or torching their vehicles and reporting the loss to collect insurance payoffs. According to authorities, most of the titleholders aren't seasoned criminals. In fact, many of the false claims are filed by first-time offenders -- people who normally wouldn't steal a piece of candy from a store. However, the desperate owners see insurance companies as "rich and fat," says James Quiggle, a spokesman for the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. Many think the insurance companies won't miss a few dollars.

Well, of course they will. Owner "give-up" cases result in felony charges of insurance fraud, making false statements to police and insurance providers, and arson if the car was burned. A better solution for cash-strapped owners, say experts, is to attempt to renegotiate payments, sell the car, or trade it in for a less expensive model. While you generally won't come out ahead, those transactions are legal and they'll keep you out of the slammer.

[Source: Detroit News | Image Source: Mark Dadswell/Getty]

REPORT: Tough times yield more insurance fraud cases originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Struggling dealer died of heart-attack while torching his own cars

Chris Paukert — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Earnings/Financials

With each passing day bringing more tough news about the state of the car companies and the plight of the autoworker, it's sometimes easy to overlook the effect that all of this economic gulag is having on mom-and-pop dealerships across the country. Bringing that idea into stark focus is news that Gregory Graham, a Pennsylvania car dealer recently died of a heart attack while torching cars at his own ailing dealership.

Graham, 61, was found amidst a row of a dozen fire-damaged vehicles on the lot of Graham Colonial Motors early in the morning on Feb. 17, and now police are confirming that the fire was due to arson - rolled up newspapers and a gasoline can were found on the scene.

According to Automotive News, court records indicate that the Pittsburgh-area dealership owed more than $420,000 in 2008 federal tax liens and some $11,000 in county property-tax liens.

The Jeep, Buick, Pontiac dealership closed last week.

[Sources: Automotive News (subs. req); Image: MSNBC]

REPORT: Struggling dealer died of heart-attack while torching his own cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yep, That'll Fix It: Berlin youths torching Porsches, BMWs over economy

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe

French youth like to burn cars on New Year's - and they don't mind lighting a few the rest of the year, either. German youths apparently really get their "arson on" when the economy takes a dip, as it happens to be doing right now. According to Bloomberg, at least 29 luxury vehicles have gone up in flames in Berlin so far this year, instigated by "'youths across Europe who 'perceive their future as rather precarious'."

The torchings in Berlin have been centered on the nicer, gentrified areas of town like Prenzlauer Berg, where some residents feel they are being squeezed out to make room for the moneyed. There is even a group called BMW that is claiming responsibility for some of the fires, but this time the acronym stands for the Movement for Militant Resistance (auf Deutsch, naturlich).

If cars are going up in smoke so quickly right now, perhaps the real question is: What will the disgruntled turn to next when things get worse? The police have created a special unit to investigate the arson, since it's considered a political act, but the advice from a Berlin police commissioner is: "I wouldn't advise someone to park their Porsche on the street." Thanks for the tip, Eric!

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: Tigerhawk]

Yep, That'll Fix It: Berlin youths torching Porsches, BMWs over economy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sacr� bleu! French torch 1000+ cars on New Year's

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe

Throughout France on New Year's Eve, 1,147 cars met crispy deaths at the hands of arsonists. That's almost 300 cars more than the previous year.

Lighting cars on fire as a form of protest has been a habit among youth in France since the 70s, but ever since the protests of 2005, after two boys were killed in an electrical station while hiding from police, burning cars has become a go-to political statement.

But if you think 1,147 cars in one night is bad -- and as car lovers, we're not saying it isn't -- in 2007, 43,000 cars were burned, and through November of 2008, 36,700 cars were burned. That's more than 100 cars getting flambeed every single day. French president Nicolas Sarkozy has told police to show the youth no mercy, but they apparently only make up 80% of the offenders. The other 20% of arsonists is suspected to be owners committing insurance fraud on a night that provides a great alibi.

[Source: France 24]

Sacr� bleu! French torch 1000+ cars on New Year's originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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People turn to torching cars in bad economy

Michael Harley — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Etc.

Vehicle owners behind in their payments and faced with mounting debts have begun taking matches to their cars and trucks in an effort to stop their payments and collect the insurance settlements. Unfortunately, in most cases the attempts backfire (pun intended). According to police, when delinquencies on auto loans rise, owner-involved arson jumps as well. Between 2004 and 2007, "potential owner give-ups" (most of which involve torched vehicles) nearly doubled nationally. Distinguishing between an actual theft-and-burn and an owner-induced arson is the job of investigators who often find such cases easy to crack.

For example, recently a pair of Chrysler Pacificas were burned and it just so happens that that particular model was only reported stolen 98 times across the nation this year - the so-called "theft" raised more than a few eyebrows at headquarters. In another case, a Yukon owner claimed his truck was stolen and burned overnight. Police knew that the thief likely had the keys (Yukons are especially difficult to hot-wire) so their focus was immediately turned towards the owner who had conveniently left "two cans of gasoline" in the back. In yet another case, the late-paying owners had significantly lowered their deductible just days before the reported theft.

Over their heads in debt, fraudulent owners choose arson because the burned-out vehicle shells are often found immediately by authorities, and the insurance companies settle and disburse payments quickly. That is, assuming they haven't fallen behind on their insurance bills as well! Thanks for the tip, Ben!

[Source: Washington Post, photo by Maryland State Fire Marshall]

People turn to torching cars in bad economy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Moscow under seige of auto arsonist

Michael Harley — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

click above for gallery of hot, hot heat

Since last Thursday, more than 20 cars and trucks in the Russian capital of Moscow have been torched by an elusive car arsonist. Each of the fires is started the same way: flammable materials are pulled from a dumpster, stacked under the vehicle's wheel, doused with lighter fluid and then set ablaze. While the arsonist has hit vehicles in five different towns, all are thought to be the work of one individual. According to police, the culprit seems to be drawn towards gray cars (yes, the color), and has completely avoided Russian Ladas, perhaps as a demonstration of national pride. Instead, more expensive luxury imports are the hot targets. Authorities believe the misfit may be a schizophrenic registered at a psychiatric hospital. It sure sounds like a good place to start looking. Thanks for the tip, Andrew V!

Gallery: Moscow Vehicle Arsons

[Source: RAI Novosti, Photos from English Russia]

Moscow under seige of auto arsonist originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear burns! Props destroyed

John Neff — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 12:38:00 EST

Filed under: Europe

Yesterday a fire destroyed a barn at Hill End Farm in High Street, Sandridge in which props were stored for our favorite auto show from the UK, Top Gear. The free standing structure stored grain on one side, but the other was rented out by the BBC to house various props and equipment for Top Gear. There has been no word on Top Gear's website as to what items were destroyed, but we're nervous now that the Stig's list of Power Laps now exists only in our heads (and online).

Police have already concluded the fire is a case of arson and was set deliberately, though no suspects appear to be in custody. The barn itself is in a secluded area, so much so that firefighters had to wait for a long enough hose to arrive that would reach the nearest fire hydrant. There was also two acetylene cylinders and one oxygen cylinder reportedly housed in the barn, though they did not ignite.

[Source: St. Albans Observer]

Top Gear burns! Props destroyed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 12:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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