Insurance officials are worried that a trend is developing between foreclosures and a spike in arsons. Individuals are walking away from houses where the mortgages are in default and then suddenly some of these houses are burning to the ground.

The Edmonton Journal reported that just recently a beautiful old Victorian home in Bedford Massachusetts went up in flames? What’s so unique about this situation? Well it was located in a neighborhood that’s been boarded up with homes foreclosed upon. And the owner was in default $240,000. Suspicious blazes seem to be popping up all over the country, but especially noticeable in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Nevada.

According to the Nevada Fire Marshal in Carson City the more houses that are empty the more arsons they are seeing. Nevada has already seen a 4% increase over the past year. All states are worried about a spike in arsons like nothing they’ve see in the past.

Why are homeowners or should we say ex-homeowners resorting to such drastic measures? It’s hard to say and only they could answer such a questions but it would appear that since the homes are insured that if they were to burn to the ground the payout would not only cover the mortgage it would ensure credit ratings aren’t destroyed and leave individuals with the ability to possibly by a home again in the future. Others are so angry they have the attitude that if they can’t have it the bank won’t either.

Is the decision logical? No not at all. But when emotions are running high people aren’t always logical about what they do. What really happens and how much the arson rates increase remains to be seen but the numbers at the end of the year will certainly tell a story.