"Since the first fires were set Nov. 12, 2012, state police has dedicated a multitude of resources to tracking, investigating and preventing these arson (fire)s," said Capt. T.A. Reibel, Commander of the BCI Chesapeake Field Office. "From solid, old-fashioned police work to utilizing the latest in police technology, we have developed several strong leads as to who may very possibly be behind these fires."
"We are confident that a few of the arson (fire)s are the work of some individuals seeking to take advantage of what has become a serial crime spree. But, the evidence collected from the other fires indicates that the majority of the arson (fire)s are the work of several individuals possibly working in connection with one another," Reibel stated. "Solving crimes like these does require public participation. It's that one tidbit of information that an Accomack County resident knows about that's going to affect the arrest and successful prosecution of the person(s) responsible."
From Nov. 13, 2012, through Feb. 4, 2013, there have been 44 reported structure and brush fires all purposely set in Accomack County. No injuries have resulted from the fires, which have all occurred in the overnight hours. In some instances, multiple fires have been set the same night in different locations in the county.
During the course of the investigation, State Police has increased uniformed patrols and surveillance across the county; as well as brought in additional arson and crime scene investigators from other State Police BCI Field Offices around the state. State police is also working with the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, the ATF and the Accomack County Sheriffs Office on the cases.
"We sincerely appreciate all the tips called and emailed in to us from Accomack County residents. Your information has been incredibly valuable in our pursuit of the individuals endangering your community with these arsons. We also appreciate residents vigilance to protect their properties from such criminals and your patience with this expansive investigation. Please keep the tips coming in, so we can solve these crimes, put the individuals responsible behind bars, and let Accomack County residents regain a sense of safety and normalcy in their lives," Reibel continued.
Arson is one of the most challenging of criminal investigations because the crime scene has to be compromised before being thoroughly investigated. The simple act of putting out the fire can dramatically contaminate evidence at the scene, which is why State Police continues to ask residents to call 911 or 77 on a cell phone as soon as any kind of suspicious activity is suspected or spotted.
Additional numbers to reach the Virginia State Police Chesapeake Headquarters are toll-free at 1-800-582-8350 or at (757) 424-6820; the Accomack County Sheriffs Office can also be contacted at (757) 787-1131.
Information that leads to an arrest and conviction could result in an award of up to $5,000 from the Virginia Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (http://www.vaiaai.com).
In Virginia, state law declares the burning of a structure an unoccupied dwelling as a Class 4 Felony. A Class 4 Felony carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.
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