Not Quite 'Disco Inferno'

History and academic research indicate that deteriorating economic conditions are often accompanied by an increase in illegal activity. That includes opportunistic crimes by otherwise law-abiding citizens. When people are desperate, they may believe the only way out is to do something they might not consider under normal circumstances. In the wake of the dramatic meltdown in real estate, it looks like at least some homeowners are thinking about arson as a means of escape from their financial woes, if the following report from Phoenix TV channel KPHO, "Homes Burn In Mortgage Meltdown," is any guide.

'Chances They'll Get Any Money Are Slim,' Expert Says

A disturbing trend is emerging from the mortgage meltdown with some people resorting to setting their houses on fire.

Christofer Pereyra, an agent with Farmers Insurance in Phoenix, said the trend is happening mostly in the Midwest and Southwest, also in California.

He said that in Michigan, a woman "actually set the house on fire while her husband and her children were at home."

The chances of getting away with arson are slim, Pereyra said.

"In all those situations, there are investigations that take place, by the fire department and another one by the insurance company," He said. "So most of the time these people are getting caught."

And, the chances they will get any money are also slim, according to Pereyra.

"They think they can get the money that they owe, but property values have gone down," he said. "So they get paid less money than they actually owe, and sometimes those checks go straight to the mortgage companies, so they don't even see a penny of that."

Pereyra said homeowners in trouble should talk to their lenders and not resort to desperate acts.

"A lot of banks right now are helping homeowners modify their note, so they can pay it off," Pereyra said. "They end up lowering the interest rate and also the payments, so that these people can actually pay off the house."

Fraud is never the answer to money problems, Pereyra said.