Nearly two dozen people have been arrested for looting in areas affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, officials announced Thursday.
“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,” L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said. “Absolutely unacceptable.”
“Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis,” L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said. “The emergency order will be strictly enforced by the sheriff’s department, who are proactively patrolling to protect these communities from looting and any criminal activity.”
Luna said anyone remaining in evacuation zones without authorization could be charged with a misdemeanor, and committing a crime in the area could result in felony charges.
“If you are in one of these areas and you do not belong there, you are going to be subject to arrest," he said.
L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told KNX News that people caught looting will be given “maximal punishment.”
“There are people out there who think they can take advantage of this tragedy and prey on the vulnerable,” he said. “Let me send an unmistakably clear message to them: they will be arrested, they will be prosecuted, and they will be punished to the full extent of the law.”
Luna said the sheriff’s department has deployed 400 personnel to patrol fire areas for looters.
The fires have killed 10 people, destroyed over 10,000 structures, and forced 150,000 residents to evacuate.