But a day before the second payment was due, he called the police auto theft hotline and reported that his car stolen. It was his first crime. The second came hours later when he filed a false claim with his insurance company. Hurst would break the law less than two weeks later when he burned his leased car, and again when he made a false statement to investigators probing that arson. His crime isn't unusual in Detroit.
Arson investigators say nothing spells insurance fraud like a lease car going up in flames.
From what I have seen, Detroit has a major problem with fires in leased cars. The fire department doesn't keep numbers on how many arsons involve leased cars. But investigators say the number is significant. That's why car arsonists often try to melt the odometers on their vehicles. A typical three-year lease limits drivers to 36,000 miles, or 12,000 miles a year.