A growing number of SUV owners, stuck with rising gas prices and “upside-down” loans–where they owe more than the car is worth–are resorting to arson for hire to rescue themselves.

Investigators found the arson-for-hire ring involved a new-car dealership in Cerritos, California. Debt-weary SUV owners contacted the finance manager, hoping to trade in their gas-guzzler for something cheaper. They were then put in touch with an arsonist who told them to leave the keys in the ignition and $300 cash in the glovebox. An arsonist would then take the car to a remote location and set it afire. After the car was torched, the owners would then contact their insurance company and report their vehicle stolen, expecting their debt to be cancelled. Instead, they were investigated for insurance fraud.

Some SUVs have been sold with 84 month loans, no money down.  Faced with $3 a gallon on top of outrageous monthly payments, and getting gas milage in single digits, many owners are getting desperate.

The growing incidence of auto arson is an early warning signal that the U.S. lifestyle is becoming unstable.

While some greens may secretly cheer the thought of burning SUVs, it is an incredibly wasteful and polluting thing to do.

These owners should secretly give the cars to scrap metal dealers to recycle the metals.  The catalytic converters alone, contain over $100 of platinum and palladium.  Recyclers could get more money from the car than the measely $300 arsonists get.  And have you priced replacement parts lately?

 Such a waste! There ought to be a law against it.