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devoish (98.77)

ELF burns houses!

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March 04, 2008 – Comments (4)

Not likely this time.

CNN reports that the ELF is suspected in burning down a small luxury  5 home development. Cnn also reports that the ELF is on the FBI terrorist watchlist.

 

Story Highlights NEW: FBI investigating as act of domestic terrorism
Sign reading "ELF" found at site of fires, fire chief says
Earth Liberation Front called ecoterrorist group by FBI

 

CNN did not report that according to this news release from the builders website archives these homes have been on sale since July 14th. According to this letter written by the owner and posted on the builders homepage these homes were not sold yet. I doubt this is the work of the ELF or any other "green" group. Other news of the damage done by the ELF that I have read in the past has them commiting their crimes before building is complete not after. I think this is more likely the result of a guy finding himself in a bad financial situation.

JMHS (Just My Humble Suspicion),

Devoish

4 Comments – Post Your Own

#1) On March 04, 2008 at 10:22 AM, cabuilderboy (86.10) wrote:

These guys are very real. I was the CFO of a large homebuilder when they burned down 3 of our homes and another builder's entire condo project in the La Jolla area . This is when times were good. These idots set our homes on fire, which sat on a canyon ridge adjacant to another phase of our homes which were occupied. Had the fire department not stopped the ensuing canyon fire, the fire could have easily spread to occupied homes that morning.

The authorities will investigate. You might want to temper your

cynacism. Having seen their work first hand, I know they are certainly capable of this kind of destruction. By the way, the insurance company will just pay to rebuild, not to give you some kind of financial windfall.

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#2) On March 04, 2008 at 10:51 AM, devoish (98.77) wrote:

Cabuilderboy,

So you have completely ruled out insurance fraud as a possibility here?

Like I said: "suspicion". When they torched your projects were they finished and sitting unsold for seven months? And if the insurance co pays to rebuild, that should be enough money to pay himself, his framers/etc. for a few more months, pay off his past due at HD and basically buy himself 6 months. That might be quite a windfall as opposed to the losses he was sitting on.

Without the presence of that spray painted sign what would you think? 

 

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#3) On March 04, 2008 at 11:56 AM, cabuilderboy (86.10) wrote:

Anything is possible. I am not a conspiracy theorist. I have built in a "street of dreams" development, and I can tell you, all the trades were paid long ago. You must have some resources to build there, and trades get paid to build an expensive home for a reputable builder.

Again, I am not sure of the benefit of setting the fire. Insurance pays you to rebuild, not at your sales price, but what it will cost you, so you are net zero. If you financed the constructiona all that keeps having to be paid, whether the house is burned down or not. The losses are still going to be there, so I don't see much of a benefit. I lived through one of those, so I kind of know what I am talking about. You can choose not to believe. I just wanted to present another possibility based on my experience.

 

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#4) On March 04, 2008 at 12:59 PM, devoish (98.77) wrote:

I just wanted to present another possibility based on my experience.

Actually I just wanted to present another possibility to the CNN news story that appeared pretty obvious to me. I guess all things considered I would rather it was the ELF that lit this fire than the builder. That way we just have the one known criminal and not a new one. If these houses had just been finished last week I would not have posted, If they were burned during construction, typical of what I have read of the ELF, I would not have posted. If one or two were sold, I would not have posted.

Thanks for helping me look a little deeper,

Devoish

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