Melbourne's hospitality sector is grappling with a series of alleged arson attacks, prompting investigations into motives by police and crime experts. Dr. Lauren Ducat, a forensic behavioural science expert, explains that arson serves as an "effective weapon" due to its speed, destructiveness, and visibility, creating fear and quickly shutting down businesses, with the potential for replication when similar tactics are perceived to succeed. The unpredictability of these attacks, where clear motives are not immediately apparent, significantly impacts business owner confidence. Evidence in arson cases is often destroyed, making prosecution difficult, and while Victoria Police have made 51 arrests since April 27 in relation to 38 incidents, they have not yet identified a clear perpetrator or motive, keeping all avenues of inquiry open, including potential offshore syndicates.