Police See Increases in Arson Cases
Arson incidents in the city rose in 1995, but so did arrests of suspected arsonists, police said this week.
Statistics from the Fullerton Police Department’s arson investigation detail show that 20 arson crimes were committed last year. In 1994, the number totaled 15.
Authorities said that police arrested 10 suspected arsonists in 1995, however, and eight of those arrests resulted in felony convictions and prison sentences. Six suspected arsonists were arrested in 1994 and three were convicted.
Of the 20 fires set in 1995, 10 were structural fires and 10 involved vehicles, grassy areas or other objects.
“The majority of incidents seemed to involve suspects who . . . set malicious fires because they were angry or suffered emotional problems,” Det. Bill Wallis said. “It’s hard to prevent these kinds of fires from occurring because you’re dealing with human nature.”
He urged residents to report suspicious activities in their neighborhoods.
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