Projected over a year, this makes up the not insignificant sum of nearly a billion schillings (EUR 72,672,834) that insurance companies pay out. The arsonists and the damage they cause costs the companies three times as much as fires arising from other causes.

Damage from arson  has doubled in the last three years. Although the number of cases of arson in the last three years surveyed remained about the same, the damage in financial terms nearly doubled. It amounted to ATS 946 million (ER 68,748,591), the second highest figure recorded in arson statistics. Only fires caused by heating devices cost more money. Applying the figures to the nearly 25,000 fires occurring in Austria every year, then every 34^th fire is due to arson. In 1998 the damage from “normal” insured cases was ATS 3.35 billion (EUR 43,453,994), or just about AS 600,000 (EUR 43,604) per case. In the same year the insurance companies collected fire premiums amounting to nearly ATS 6.4 billion (EUR 465,106,139). Industry’s share amounted to ATS 1.6 billion (EUR 116,276,535). In return, industries collected claims amounting to ATS 1.7 billion (EUR 123,543,818). Agriculture, businesses and private persons collected claims amounting to ATS 2,8 billion (EUR 203,483,936).

Insurance companies pay also in cases of arson
Unless otherwise provided for, everyone whose home burns down gets a new building. “In cases of fire, the main cause is still defective heating equipment. So apart from normal technical maintenance, the best protection is through insurance. But anyone who sets fire to his home and who is convicted of arson has no claim. Anyone setting fire to someone else’s property must reckon with a recourse claim”, emphasises Dr. Johannes Hajek, the responsible member of the Management Board of UNIQA Sachversicherung AG.

Source: Police criminal statistics
SCHUTZ HAUS, Institute for technical security
Austrian Insurance Association