As destructive wildfires rage across the region, Los Angeles County officials are vowing to crack down on home-robbers and warning that those who do so will face penalties.
During the disaster, we have all witnessed people breaking into and looting homes in neighborhoods that are already at risk. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors member Kathryn Barger told reporters Thursday that this is just not acceptable.
Barger then spoke directly to the looters, saying, “I swear to you, you will be held responsible.” Shame on those who are taking advantage of our citizens in this emergency.
Since the flames started on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has taken 20 people into custody, Barger said, adding that police were actively patrolling the area to keep these communities safe from criminal behavior and looting.
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In statements to media, Sheriff Robert Luna issued a harsh warning of his own, calling any lawbreaking during the wildfire disaster “completely unacceptable.”
Luna declared, “I’m going to make this crystal clear to everybody out there.” Up to 20 persons have decided to enter our communities and take away the property of these underprivileged people who have endured so much. He stated that he anticipated the number to increase.
According to Luna, he intends to provide new instructions to sheriff’s deputies who come across individuals in locations that are subject to mandatory evacuation orders: You could be arrested if you are in an area where you don’t belong. That’s as obvious as I can make it, I hope.
In order to prevent looting, Luna stated that he wants a curfew for the Palisades and Eaton fires, with an emphasis on regions where residents have been ordered to flee. On Thursday, the specifics were being worked out.
The California National Guard is also being asked to help, according to officials. According to Luna, they will help secure infrastructure and transportation.
Nathan Hochman, the recently elected district attorney for Los Angeles County, denounced looting as heinous and pledged to punish anyone who commit it to the fullest extent possible.
Details of some of the thefts were verified by police departments throughout Southern California.
Following the owners’ evacuation, a house in Sierra Madre, a little village perched on a hill, was broken into on Wednesday.
Detective Sgt. Charles Kamchamnan of the Sierra Madre Police reported that the entire house was looted.
There were no arrests.
“It’s regrettable, but it’s something we see all over the county, with criminals taking advantage of the situation,” Kamchamnan added.
A house was broken into early Wednesday in the evacuation area of Arcadia, a city in eastern Los Angeles County close to the Eaton Fire. According to Lt. John Bonomo of the Arcadia Police, among the stolen goods were expensive purses.
According to Bonomo, the house had security cameras and an alarm, but they weren’t working since the power had been turned off. To prevent looting, the police department has increased neighborhood patrols and stationed officers at the location of road closures.
According to Bonomo, if someone walks up there, our cops will probably see them and ask them. We’re acting in a really proactive manner.
According to Lt. Erika R. Aklufi of the Santa Monica police department, at least three individuals were taken into custody Thursday night on suspicion of committing burglaries inside the Palisades Fire evacuation zone.
Homeowners worried about looting have called at least one private security firm nonstop. The Covina-based operations manager for American Protection Security, Wally Alqadhi, reported that his phone has been ringing virtually constantly, but he has had to turn down every request.
“We can t get to these areas, and it s not safe for my officers to be there anyway,” he stated.
As Southern California awoke to a third day of fire-related destruction and uncertainty, local leaders denounced the looting. Since Tuesday, around 30,000 acres have burnt, five people have perished, and over 100,000 people have been displaced.
The largest fire is the Palisades Fire, which covers 17,234 acres, or around 27 square miles. Block after block was almost erased from the map, with homes and businesses being replaced by smoking piles of ash and debris, according to photos and videos taken at the scene.