 "The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo: AP)")
Even as firefighters and law enforcement personnel are stretched thin in tackling wildfires ravaging California’s Los Angeles, the authorities are facing another challenge from looters.
The condition is such that National Guard, part of the US military reserves, has been deployed to aid police in tackling looters. The National Guard is also aiding in firefighting operations.
As several thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed in fires and nearly 200,000 people have been forced to flee for their lives, looters have found an opportunity that police and National Guard are now tackling. A local told the media that as many as 100 people arrived in vehicles to enter houses to loot them.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a press conference on Thursday that as many as 20 looters have so far been arrested.
Not just looters but scamsters are also trying to make the most of the crisis. There have been reports that scamsters have been trying to fool people by posing as insurance company employees and duping them of money in the name of addressing the damage to their properties.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said that 600 National Guards personnel have been mobilised for Los Angeles. These personnel are being tasked with traffic control, protecting critical infrastructure, and supporting law enforcement personnel, and first responders.
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In a warning to those wanting to take advantage of empty homes and businesses, Luna said that they would be “arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”.
Luna said that looters “chose to go into areas and deprive these poor people, who have been through so much, of their property”, according to Washington Times.
While Luna said 20 looters have been arrested, he did not specify the charges against them or publish their names.
Luna said that not just looters but those people found loitering in areas under evacuation orders would also be held and prosecuted. Those held committing crimes would be charged with felonies.
Luna further said, “If you are in one of these areas and you do not belong there, you are going to be subject to arrest. Our first choice isn’t to do enforcement. … It’s to help people, but if people choose to commit crimes, they’re going to be held accountable.”
Separately, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said that “if you want to engage in these internet scams where you’re going to take advantage of people who are going to be seeking insurance and government benefits you will be arrested”.
“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 take 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,” said Hochman, according to CBS News.
Los Angeles fires remain mostly out of control
As per latest information, at least five fires are raging in Los Angeles and they are still largely out of control.
At least 10 people have been killed, nearly 200,000 have been forced to flee for their lives, and entire neighbourhoods have been burnt to ashes.
The fires are being fanned by strong winds. Even as the first two fires were barely contained, new fires were also began on Wednesday and Thursday
The five fires are being called the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, the Hurst fire, the Lidia fire, and the Kenneth fire.
The Palisades fire has been the most devastating and has burnt 19,978 acres of land and has only been contained 6 per cent, according to CNN.
The outlet reported that the Eaton fire, which has burnt 13,690 acres of land, has not been contained at all. It continues to rage with 0 per cent containment.
The Hurst fire has been contained 37 per cent, the Lidia fire 75 per cent, and Kenneth Fire 35 per cent, according to the outlet.