THE grief-stricken streets of LA have been hit with disgusting looters and wannabe arsonists as cops crack down on shock wildfire crimes.
Criminals have sought to exploit the most vulnerable areas during the city’s horrifying apocalyptic blaze as cops desperately attempt to arrest crooks.
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A looter allegedly dressed as a firefighter while stealing from mansionsCredit: LA County Sherrif’s department
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Cops arrested a person allegedly lighting fires near the tragic Eaton blazeCredit: X/@IrwindalePolice
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A sign reading “looters will be shot” outside a house in AltadenaCredit: Reuters
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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.
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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.
“When I was out in the Malibu area, I saw a gentleman that looked like a firefighter and asked him if he was okay because he was sitting down,” Luna said.
“I didn’t realize we had him in handcuffs.
Devastating aftermath of LA wildfires revealed as fire chiefs warn threat is still ‘very high’
“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.
Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva, was allegedly seen blazing old Christmas trees and debris with what one local described as a “flamethrower”, according to 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.
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Cops said they caught Gabriel Isaih Stokes with fake IDs, a ski mask, and large bags on himCredit: The Santa Monica Police Department
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Dominic Pachecomanga was arrested after he drove into the evacuation zone with someone elseCredit: The Santa Monica Police Department
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Miguel Angel Dorantes was arrested with PachecomangaCredit: The Santa Monica Police Department
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Joshua Kaliel Love was arrested with a dagger, gloves, mask, and a window-breaking tool on himCredit: The Santa Monica Police Department
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.
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A sign reading ‘Looters will be shot’ stands in a mandatory evacuation zone in Altadena on SundayCredit: Getty
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A “no looters” sign placed on a road after residents fled in Altadena on SaturdayCredit: Reuters