Santa Monica police have arrested over 40 suspected looters during the LA wildfires, warning others against exploiting the situation
Since the evacuation orders went out last week due to the massive Palisades Fire, over 40 people have been arrested. It’s been a chaotic time, with around 88,000 residents told to leave their homes as the fire spread across 24,000 acres.
Out of those arrested, ten were charged with burglary, while others faced charges for drugs, driving issues, and violating probation. Some even had handguns on them, which is pretty alarming.
The Santa Monica Police Department noted that this spike in arrests is unusual for the area, and interestingly, none of the suspects are locals. Many were caught during routine traffic stops or for breaking the strict curfew in place.
When police searched their cars, they found masks, gloves, and tools that looked like they were meant for breaking into homes. Some even had stolen items from the empty mansions in their vehicles, and a few cars had fake license plates.
With so many people forced to evacuate, these looters are just adding to the stress. On Tuesday, the LA District Attorney announced nine indictments against suspected looters, emphasizing that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It’s a tough time for everyone, and exploiting the situation is just not cool.
