The looter who posed as a firefighter while he robbed those who evacuated the deadly inferno-ravaged Pacific Palisades looked shameful as he was arrested by officers. (Image: Eric Fox/Fox First On Scene Photograph)
The shamefaced looter who impersonated a firefighter to prey on evacuees from the devastating The unidentified suspect was arrested on Saturday afternoon while wearing an outdated California Fire jacket.
Authorities also apprehended an alleged accomplice in the vicinity. According to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, the duo was detained near the iconic Getty Villa, which narrowly escaped the inferno’s path.
Photographer Eric Fox recounted to , “We saw the one subject wearing the old CDF (California Department of Forestry) jacket riding his moped up PCH.”
Fox added, “The other subject was riding a scooter. By the time we pulled up to the checkpoint to tell the deputies, they had already detained them. He was the only one wearing a fire uniform.”
Fox noted that the making the jacket an obvious giveaway of the looter’s ill intentions. The threat of looters has been a persistent concern since the wildfires erupted, claiming 10 lives, destroying 10,000 buildings, and forcing 200,000 people to flee their homes, reports
A suspected looter disguised as a firefighter was photographed looking shame-faced (Image: Eric Fox/Fox First On Scene Photography)
Residents have been terrorised by a gang of 100 looters targeting evacuated homes amidst the chaos. “We just started seeing all these cars pull up, doors open, groups of men running up our street, going up to the doors of these houses,” recounted Allison Agsten to The Post Millennial.
“My next-door neighbor said, ‘There were like 100 people,’ that came up on scooters and were trying to get into any and all houses on this street.”
The threat of looting has left many residents fearful of evacuating. Newsweek reported Haley Winslow’s comments from the scene of the Eaton Fire: “It has turned into the wild wild west here. It is just complete insanity on all corners.”
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed in a press conference that 20 individuals had been arrested for looting within the wildfire evacuation zone, condemning their actions: “Twenty individuals chose to go into our areas and deprive these poor people who have been through so much of their property.”
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department announced that the pair were arrested close to the iconic Getty Villa, which narrowly avoided being scorched by the deadly flames, though it was unclear if the pair had been caught with any stolen property. (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has issued a stern warning to potential looters amidst the raging fires wreaking havoc across the state. In a statement, he declared: “Let me make it quite clear what’s going to happen: The DA’s office, working with law enforcement, is going to arrest you, they’re going to prosecute you, and you will be punished to the full extent of the law. That’s a promise.”
As the , a new blaze has already necessitated more evacuations.
Officials are considering a curfew for beleaguered communities, proposing restrictions from 6 pm. to 6am in efforts to maintain order.
The arrests come as many residents fear looters will steal their belongings after they evacuated (Image: Getty Images)