Arson is classified as what type of offense?

• A. The illegal burning or exploding of property
• B. The unauthorized use of fire in cooking
• C. The vandalism of property using paint
• D. The theft of property by arson

Answer: (A)

Arson is a property offense because its defining element is the deliberate burning or explosion of someone’s property with the intent to damage or destroy it. This makes it a crime against property, not a crime against people. It’s not about using fire for cooking, which is a normal activity, nor is it about vandalism with paint, or about stealing property. The key distinction is the intentional fire-setting aimed at property damage, which places arson squarely among property crimes.