Looting in evacuated regions has emerged as a new issue as law enforcement and emergency agencies attempt to handle the complete pandemonium caused by the blazing wildfires in Los Angeles.
According to reports, Knewz.com has revealed that “at least” 20 persons have been arrested in recent days on suspicion of looting.
There are now raging wildfires in Los Angeles, particularly in the Eaton, Hurst, and Pacific Palisades zones. These fires have destroyed entire neighborhoods and caused tremendous damage in a number of localities.
More than 1,000 homes and businesses have been destroyed by the extensive fires, which have already resulted in two fatalities.
Strong, extremely dry downslope winds that originate inland and impact coastal Southern California and the Baja California region are known as extreme Santa Ana winds. According to reports, these winds have been contributing to the fires, with gusts of up to 80 mph spreading them throughout the Palisades, Altadena, and Pasadena regions.
These Santa Ana winds are “the worst in over a decade,” according to reports, with gusts of up to 99 mph recorded in Altadena and the neighboring areas.
The “rich and highly populated” regions of Los Angeles, including the residences of Hollywood celebrities, were affected by the raging wildfires, according to officials.
More than 1,400 firemen have been sent in to combat the raging fire that has overtaken Los Angeles, “with assistance from both nearby and out-of-state departments and further asks out to anyone with firefighting experience,” according to reports citing California Governor Gavin Newsom.
People have allegedly been breaking into vacated homes while evacuation orders are in effect and stealing everything they can, adding to the already stressful situation.
At a press conference on January 9, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated:
“I m gonna make this crystal clear to everybody out there: Over last night and this morning, we are up to 20 individuals who chose to go into our area and deprive these poor people who have been through so much of their property.”
“If you stay in that location after we issue an evacuation order, you are legally guilty of a criminal… It may escalate to a felony if you commit specific offenses,” he continued.
“If you want to go ahead and loot, if you want to commit burglary, if you want to engage in grand theft, if you want to engage in these internet scams where you re going to be taking advantage of people who are going to be seeking insurance and government benefits, you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Luna stated during the conference.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff added that the National Guard is being deployed in the most impacted regions and that a 12-hour curfew is being enforced as part of the extra measures being taken by the authorities to keep the situation from getting out of control.
Luna explained that, perhaps in reference to the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton fire in Altadena, Los Angeles County was planning to implement a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. (local time) in the particular affected neighborhoods surrounding the two fire locations.
The Altadena Town Council requested the curfew, which Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger clarified is meant “not to punish residents but to keep the area safe.”
In reference to the National Guard’s deployment, Luna stated:
“For both fires, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has formally asked the California National Guard for assistance… They will be helping us preserve vital infrastructure and manage traffic.”
“Having additional resources, having the National Guard with us will help send a stronger message, keep people out of the impacted areas, so we don t continuously victimize the people who have already been victimized,” he added.