THE grief-stricken streets of LA have been hit with disgusting looters and wannabe arsonists as cops crack down on shock wildfire crimes.
During the city’s devastating apocalyptic fire, criminals have targeted the most susceptible zones while law enforcement officers strive to apprehend offenders.
Several LA neighborhoods have been decimated by the raging infernos that have killed 24 people and forced more than 100,000 to flee their homes.
Twisted criminals have unbelievably exploited the tragedy inflicted on California’s biggest city by stealing from deserted homes.
Over two dozen people have been arrested including one alleged looter who reportedly dressed as a firefighter.
The alleged criminal was caught wearing a yellow fire jacket with the city’s fire department’s old acronym CDF, fire boots, and jeans.
Los Angeles County Sherrif Robert Luna revealed a man was arrested for supposedly burglarizing mansions in the ultra-exclusive Malibu area.
He was caught going along the burnt-down beach houses worth millions of dollars.
The alleged crook was also arrested with another man as the pair were spotted on a scooter and a moped, according to the MailOnline.
While in the Malibu vicinity, Luna encountered an individual who appeared to be a firefighter and inquired about his well-being as he was seated.
“I didn’t realize we had him in handcuffs.
“We were turning him over to LAPD because he was dressed like a fireman, and he was not. He just got caught burglarizing a home.”
The fake firefighter reportedly attempted to claim he was from one of the city’s fire departments but a quick check proved this false.
‘FIRE STARTER’
Despite the tragedy and loss inflicted by these terror blazes, several suspected arsonists have reportedly been caught.
Police detained Ruben Montes, 29, for “actively lighting fires” in Irwindale, just 16 miles away from the horrifying Eaton Fire.
Firefighters reporting to a small bush blaze reportedly caught attempting to start a fire in the area.
Another suspect reportedly wielding a blowtorch was tackled to the ground and bound with zip ties by horrified onlookers.
Reportedly, Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva was observed incinerating old Christmas trees and rubble using what a resident described as a “flamethrower,” as per The New York Post.
Sierra-Leyva allegedly committed the shocking act in Woodland Hills, near the Kenneth Fire, but it has not been confirmed whether he started that wildfire.
This comes as the LA District Attorney, Nathan Hochman, warned the penalty for the suspected arsonist thought to be responsible for the murderous blaze could lead to life in prison.
Hochman revealed the “maximum punishment will be sought,” and this could include homicide, according to NewsNation.
“Whether it’s looting, these internet scams, robbery or future arsons. … the day and age of a DA’s office standing on the sidelines is over,” Hochman warned.
“We want to bring justice, and we will.”
INFERNO ‘THIEVES’
Ten attempted burglary suspects were arrested by The Santa Monica Police Department last week, according to Fox News.
Cops revealed none of the people, who were caught in the evacuation zone areas, lived in the town.
Six of these people were found with “burglary tools,” cops said.
Police revealed the shocking items they confiscated from one of these suspects, Joshua Kaliel Love, 29.
These included gloves, a dagger, a window-breaking tool, and a mask.
Suspects Dominic Pachecomanga, 18, and Miguel Angel Dorantes, 22, were caught driving a van without ID and with the Watch Duty app, which tracks the fires, open on their phones.
Police said this duo were found with dark clothing, ski masks, burglary tools, gloves, and a large bag.
Police pulled over Gabriel Isaih Stokes, 27, after his car showed up as a stolen vehicle.
The suspect was also caught with burglary tools, a ski mask, and a large bag, as well as fake IDs.
This comes as signs saying “no looters” and “looters will be shot” have popped up across the fire-ravaged and at-risk parts of LA.
Residents have been forced to take what measures they can to protect their abandoned homes as more people have been forced to evacuate due to the terror blaze.
FIRE STARTER
These tragic flames started on Tuesday morning in the coveted Pacific Palisades region, north of downtown LA.
Desperate questions have risen about how and why the city’s worst-ever fire started.
The deadly fire could have reignited from scorch marks left by an earlier blaze believed to have been caused by fireworks set off on New Year’s Eve, it is claimed.
These remaining flames could have been restarted by strong winds that have been responsible for the deadly blaze’s speed and power.
The tragic Pacific Palisades Fire started in the same area where firefighters put out the previous blaze, analysis of satellite images, radio communications and videos revealed.
