[Lauren]

OFFICIALS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAY THEY’RE CRACKING DOWN ON LOOTERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE FLEEING TRAGEDY AS DEADLY WILDFIRES RIP THROUGH THE AREA. 

SO FAR POLICE ARRESTED 20 PEOPLE ACCUSED OF RAIDING HOMES SINCE THE START OF THE FIRES. 

AROUND 180-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS AS OF THURSDAY AFTERNOON …  AS THE FAST MOVING FLAMES REDUCE MANY HOMES TO RUBBLE FROM THE PACIFIC COAST TO PASADENA.

FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THEY’RE STILL ASSESSING THE DESTRUCTION … BUT PRELIMINARY REPORTS ESTIMATE THOUSANDS OF STRUCTURES ARE EITHER DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. 

AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHAOS … LOOTERS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED … AS OFFICIALS NOW WARN POTENTIAL COPYCATS TO STAY OUT OF EVACUATED HOMES.

Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis.

A MEMBER OF A PRIVATE SECURITY FIRM TELLS THE LOS ANGELES TIMES … HE WAS HIRED TO GUARD AREAS AGAINST LOOTERS WHO MIGHT SEE THE FIRES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TARGET AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS – SOME WITH CELEBRITY HOMES –  THAT HAVE BEEN DESERTED.

SO FAR, HE SAYS HE’S HAD TO CHASE OFF TWO PEOPLE ON A MOPED ON A CLIENT’S PROPERTY AND CAUGHT A MAN LEAVING ANOTHER HOME WITH A DRONE INSIDE A LUXURY BAG. 

THE L-A COUNTRY SHERIFF SAYS AROUND 400 DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO THE FIRE AREAS AND ARE PATROLLING FOR LOOTERS. 

FOR SAN – I’M LAUREN TAYLOR … FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.