The U.S. Fire Administration recently announced “Vehicle Arson: Who Pays for this Crime?” as the theme for the 2007 Arson Awareness Week, held May 6–12. The goal of this year's arson awareness week is to expand the resources and support necessary to reduce this crime by drawing people's attention to the statistics about vehicle arson.

According to 2004 data from the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association, 36,000 intentionally set vehicle fires occurred, an increase of 18% from the previous year. Vehicle arson accounted for $165 million in property damage, an increase of 25% from the previous year. Vehicle arson accounted for 29% of all arsons and is the second-highest cause of vehicle fires.

The 2004 Uniform Crime Report from the U.S. Department of Justice states that arson has one of the lowest clearance rates of any major crime. The national rate for arson in 2004 was 17.1%. Motor vehicle clearances were lower at 7.4%.

"Far from being a 'victimless crime,' arson is expensive — in pass-along costs and frequently in human life," said John Eager, senior director of claims for the Property Casualty Ensures Association of America. "The most recent statistics show that the number of suspicious vehicle fires is on the rise, as is the number of Americans killed each year as the result of arson."

For more information of Arson Awareness Week, including a media kit, case studies and supporting documents, visit the USFA’s Web site.