Wildfires

Charges filed in some LA County fire evacuation zone looting arrests

Authorities have reported 48 arrests for burglary, curfew violations, and other incidents since the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire ignited last week.

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Law enforcement departments across Los Angeles County are filing charges against suspected looters taking advantage of the devastation brought upon the Southland by brush fires. Eric Leonard reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.

Burglary charges were filed against at least six of the people who law enforcement authorities said were arrested in recent days inside the wildfire evacuation zones in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, according to court records.

The five men and one woman were accused of first-degree residential burglary for alleged break-ins that took place last Wednesday, the day after the largest fires started and fire officials rapidly expanded evacuation areas.

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger blasted people taking advantage of the fire-caused destruction in LA to loot homes and businesses.

Other arrests from the Eaton Fire evacuation zone made over the weekend include four men accused of entering the area unlawfully and one man accused of interfering with emergency workers.

LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman discussed the cases and other arrests at a news conference Monday afternoon.

The LA County Sheriff's Department said its deputies had made a total of 34 fire-related arrests since last Tuesday, most in the Eaton fire evacuation area, including two Sunday night for curfew violations and two in connection with a "drone incident."

The LAPD reported 14 arrests in the Palisades Fire area, including one for impersonation of a firefighter, one for possession of burglary tools, four for burglary, one for driving under the influence, one for vandalism and three for shoplifting.

The Santa Monica Police Department said its officers arrested three people over the weekend "near" the Palisades Fire evacuation zone on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, providing false ID to police and possession of burglary tools.

The California National Guard shared video of pilots dropping fire retardant over the Palisades Fire using a Modular Airborne FireFighting System-equipped C-130J aircraft.

"Do not go ahead and engage in looting, engage in Internet scams, engage in price gouging. Do not commit any of these crimes in which people are trying to profit from the tragedy of the people who have suffered from these various fires,'' Hochman said during Monday's press conference.

LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton noted that police are "continuing to make progress" in their investigation into an incident "where it appears various individuals were attempting to identify themselves as firefighters."

"... I anticipate that is going to result in a successful filing as well," he said, noting that investigators believe there were "conspiratorial acts involved in their activity."

He noted that authorities are aware that "there are other crimes that have occurred" and said he wants the public to know that police are continuing their probes into those crimes.

Sheriff Robert Luna said he wanted to assure the public that "we mean business."

".. Whether we are talking about burglary, looting, we're talking about scams, we're talking about the misuse of drones, whatever it is, we're going to get you,'' the sheriff said. "Do not make this worse than it already is. We're in the middle of this. We have a lot of work to do."

He urged people who do not have any "legitimate business" being in active curfew areas between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. to stay out.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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