20 arrested for looting in fire-affected areas of LA County

So far 20 people have been arrested in the multiple Los Angeles County fire zones for allegedly looting, authorities said Thursday as they pledged a crackdown on any crimes connected with the disaster that has claimed two lives, destroyed hundreds of structures and forced evacuations.

“This is simply unacceptable,” Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said of the looting. She vowed accountability for “those who are preying on our residents at this time of crisis.”

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said approximately 400 department personnel have been deployed in the fire zones and are on the lookout for looters. He told reporters it is a misdemeanor for unauthorized individuals to be in an evacuation area, and committing a crime in a disaster area is a felony. The sheriff said he is instructing deputies to aggressively enforce those restrictions and arrest people found in the burn areas.

“I’m going to make this crystal clear to everybody out there,” Luna said. “Over last night and this morning, we are up to 20 individuals who chose to go into our areas and deprive these poor people who have been through so much of their property. Absolutely unacceptable. …

“If you are in one of these areas and you do not belong there, you are going to be subject to arrest,” Luna said. “I hope that is as clear as I can make it.”

District Attorney Nathan Hochman said “these criminals need to hear … an unmistakably clear message that if you want to ahead and loot, if you want to commit burglary, if you want to commit grand theft … you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be punished to the full extent of the law.” 

“These acts are despicable,” Hochman said.

In a statement Tuesday, Hochman said, “Let me be clear: if you think about exploiting this crisis to steal from our residents, you will be caught, arrested  and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We will not tolerate criminal behavior that further harms our community during this difficult time.”

The county’s five active wildfires have burned roughly 29,000 acres total since they began during Tuesday’s windstorm.

Updated information on the blazes is available at fire.ca.gov/incidents.

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