A recent incident in Jackson, Wyoming highlights the challenge in preventing arson at commercial properties.
A criminal investigation is underway into a fire that heavily damaged six businesses in a strip mall building. The fire occurred about 2 a.m. on a dark Sunday in a largely commercial area along the town’s main thoroughfare but well outside the historic downtown area. Two restaurants, a gun shop, an engraving business and a laundry were among the businesses severely damaged.
County authorities said that the fire that spread through a major part of the shopping center plaza within half an hour may have started at the front of the Habitat For Humanity portion of the building. Fire destroyed the wooden facade of this commercial building as well as most of the contents of the occupants leasing space there. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Authorities began a criminal investigation of arson at commercial properties because of their initial suspicions.
This incident in Wyoming isn’t an isolated one, unfortunately. As you will see below, there are several incidents of arson at commercial properties that have been reported and remain in some cases unsolved.
- Fire that burned a business in Nebraska recently is under investigation as arson.
- A business in Sioux City caught fire on another recent night.
- A fire that destroyed a downtown Kansas City restaurant ended in an arson conviction.
- Arson at a business park caused $1 Million in damages in April of this year.
These shopping centers and office buildings are not clients of Stealth Monitoring. Stealth proactive live surveillance can detect and deter crime in Wyoming and cities across the U.S. for greater security while reducing security guard and other expenses. A Stealth operator could have seen unusual activity like arson at commercial properties, activated an audible warning to deter the criminals, and called the local police.
Please contact Stealth today for more information to protect your shopping center or other commercial property. Visit our web site to see actual videos of criminals being apprehended at shopping centers and other businesses.
