Taking advantage of California wildfires to impersonate firefighters to steal

Los Angeles city officials (California, USA) said they have arrested a suspect who disguised himself as a firefighter and took advantage of the forest fire situation to plot theft.

The Los Angeles Police Department said on January 12 that it arrested 29 more suspects overnight near major fires, with 25 arrested near the Eaton Fire and four near the Palisades Fire.

In the case near the Palisades fire, police spotted a man driving a pickup truck pretending to work at a fire station. However, after a quick check with the Los Angeles Fire Department, it was discovered that his name was not on the employee list. Police immediately arrested the man and other suspects in the vehicle, according to the Los Angeles Times .

Firefighters extinguish a fire in Mandeville Canyon, Los Angeles on January 12.

“There are people who will do anything to get what they want,” Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said of the suspect who dressed as a firefighter and broke into homes to steal items. Police said the latest arrests were not residents of the fire area, with some carrying guns and drugs.

Nearly a week after the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, authorities have imposed a curfew, patrolled and arrested many people who violated the curfew and took advantage of the chaos to attempt burglaries. On January 11, Los Angeles police arrested two suspects in front of US Vice President Kamala Harris’s home in the Brentwood neighborhood after receiving a tip about a possible burglary.

After some positive signs in firefighting efforts over the weekend, the Los Angeles wildfire situation is at risk of worsening this week. The US National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts strong winds, gusting from 80 to 104 km/h, may appear on January 13-15. Although the winds are not as severe as last week, the NWS warns that this is still an extremely dangerous situation.

According to CNN's update on January 13, wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least 24 people and left dozens missing, burned more than 16,000 hectares and destroyed more than 12,000 structures.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/loi-dung-chay-rung-o-california-de-dong-gia-linh-cuu-hoa-hong-trom-cap-185250113164429046.htm