With hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles-area residents under mandatory evacuation orders, it’s no surprise that looters are exploiting the chaos. But no one need worry because California Gov. Gavin Newsom is on it. As part of his pledge to crackdown on looting, Newsom deployed California National Guard service members to support law enforcement in the region, delivering a strong message: “Looting will not be tolerated.”
Of the 600 CalGuard troops now operating in the area, 300 are assisting local law enforcement while the other 300 are working alongside firefighting personnel.
At a Thursday morning press conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna reported to KTLA that “at least 20 people have been arrested for looting in wildfire evacuation zones in metro Los Angeles this week.”
Sheriff Luna announced measures to combat looting, including the deployment of roving patrols in the evacuation zones and the implementation of “hard road closures” to deter unauthorized access. He also emphasized that individuals caught in evacuated areas without proper authorization could face misdemeanor charges—or felony charges if they are caught looting.
“If you are in one of these areas and you do not belong there, you are going to be subject to arrest,” Luna cautioned. “Our first choice isn’t to do enforcement. It’s not to make arrests. It’s to help people.”
Newly elected Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman also issued a stern warning to potential looters: “These criminals need to hear an unmistakable message: if you plan to loot, commit burglary, or engage in grand theft, you will be arrested, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law.” Residents may find some relief in Hochman’s apparent commitment to taking a tougher stance on crime compared to his predecessor, the notably progressive and lenient George Gascón.
However, the devastation caused by the wildfires may still prove too tempting for some looters to resist, as they seek to exploit the chaos for personal gain.
On Saturday morning, CBS News interviewed an Altadena resident who refused to evacuate and remarkably managed to save both his home and several neighbors’ homes. (It was unclear from the interview how he had managed to achieve this – perhaps with a garden hose.)
At any rate, this man told CBS that he and a neighbor had already confronted and chased off two groups of looters attempting to break into the homes still standing.
KTLA interviewed Los Angeles resident Allison Agsten, who described the chaos unfolding in her neighborhood as she prepared to evacuate with her family. “It was wild. We started seeing all these cars pull up, doors open, and men running up our street, going to the doors of some houses. We weren’t sure what was going on. I thought, ‘Are these people here to help my neighbors? I hope so.’ I left, and then my husband spoke to the police and said, ‘These guys don’t live here. Get them out.'”
She added, “My next-door neighbor said, ‘There were like 100 people who came up on scooters and were trying to get into any and all houses on this street.'”
When asked if she saw police officers physically stopping the intruders, Agsten explained that she hadn’t, citing the overwhelming chaos and her focus on getting her family safely out of the house.
KTLA confirmed this story with police.
Newsweek reported last week that many residents were afraid to leave their homes due to fears of looting. Reporter Haley Winslow, reporting near the Eaton fire, described the situation as chaotic. “It has turned into the wild wild west here. It is just complete insanity on all corners. Police are doing the best they can, they’re seeing looters walking down the street with large TVs just taking advantage of what little this town has left.”
KCAL reporter Madisen Keavy said, “Our cameras saw three men on scooters immediately turn around when they saw police.”
In the end, as the California wildfires rage into their fifth day, it seems that for many residents, looting may be the least of their problems.
Elizabeth writes commentary for The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation and a member of the Editorial Board at The Sixteenth Council, a London think tank. Please follow Elizabeth on X or LinkedIn.
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