F*** the Rich': Cape Cod Arsonist Targets Homes of the Wealthy

Upscale towns in Massachusetts are on alert as police and fire officials are investigating another fire in which an arsonist scawled a "f*** the rich" graffiti message at the scene. The latest incident in Sandwich follows another suspicious incident in Barnstable.

On Dec. 2, the local news reports that "incendiary devices" were found in the charred ruins of a home in Marstons Mills, along with the spray-painted expletive left spray-painted on a fence.

In a phone interview Saturday, Joe Vaughn, who owned the Trotter's Lane house for 22 years but moved about 10 years ago to Sandwich, said he talked to his former neighbors the day the arson investigators were at the home.

The arsonist had cut the propane tank off a gas grill at a neighboring house and put it in the basement of the empty one, Vaughn said a neighbor told him.

"But what they didn't realize was that propane settles," he added. The propane apparently never drifted upstairs to the burning candle.

"It looks like someone was trying to burn another whole house to the ground," Barnstable police Det. John York said.

An arson hotline is available 24-hours a day at 800-682-9229.  There is currently a $5,000 reward for information helping to solve arson cases, according to the state Fire Marshal's Office.