‘A lot of looting,’ eight arrests as California wildfires rage, Santa Cruz sheriff says
Deputies have arrested eight people accused of looting in the Santa Cruz Mountains as thousands flee lightning-sparked wildfires in California, sheriff’s officials say.
“I can say that there are people out there, unfortunately, that are looking to victimize people who have left and have been displaced,” said Chief Deputy Chris Clark, The Mercury News reported. “It’s terrible and it’s disgusting.”
Residents have reported “a lot of looting” in the area, said Sheriff Jim Hart, according to the Associated Press.
Firefighters are battling the 74,000-acre CZU Lightning Complex blaze in the mountains near Santa Cruz on the Northern California coast, reports the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The wildfire, which began Aug. 17, has destroyed 163 structures, according to CalFire. More than 1,500 firefighters have the blaze 8% contained.
On Friday, Santa Cruz County sheriff’s deputies arrested five people on suspicion of looting and other charges after residents reported suspicious activity on security cameras, the sheriff’s office reported on Facebook.
Deputies tried to stop two vehicles seen in the neighborhood, but one driver tried to flee and crashed into a ditch, sheriff’s officials say.
Jose Gandarilla, Susana Luna, Crystal Araujo, Sara Loretz and Crystle Parstch-Lucchesi were arrested on suspicion of looting, grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and burglary, the Facebook post says.
Hart said out-of-towners and neighbors have been arrested on suspicion of looting in Santa Cruz County, USA Today reported. Targets have included guns, personal possessions and an outdoor heating system.
“I have no empathy, I have no patience for somebody who’s going to come into our community and steal from people who have been evacuated and victimized and traumatized,” Hart said, the Associated Press reported.
In Sonoma County, also the site of a massive lightning-sparked wildfire, one person has been arrested on suspicion of breaking into an unoccupied home, KSBW reported.
Firefighters are battling hundreds of wildfires in California that have scorched more than 1.1 million acres, The Sacramento Bee reported.
This story was originally published August 24, 2020 at 9:58 AM with the headline "‘A lot of looting,’ eight arrests as California wildfires rage, Santa Cruz sheriff says."