ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A November fire at a Rockford food store was intentionally set to collect an insurance check, according to Rockford Police.
Thaer Safi, 41, is charged with arson and insurance fraud, among others. Safi is accused of setting fire to a property he was renting in order to obtain insurance money to pay off overdue rent.
The fire occurred on November 6 at Sofi Foods, 5801 Columbia Parkway. Court documents show that the property’s manager told police Safi was behind in rent in excess of $20,000 and that an eviction order was in the process of being served.
Shortly before the alleged arson, Safi reportedly told the property manager that he would pay off the delinquent rent after he received a $1,000,000 insurance check.
A police investigation of nearby security cameras found footage of a vehicle matching the description of a Toyota RAV 4 owned by Safi in the area of the fire. A person was later seen exiting the vehicle before pouring an “ignitable liquid” between the double front door of the property.