A California man is being accused of dressing as a first responder in order to steal from the burned properties in Los Angeles.
Authorities arrested him on suspicion of burglary, as part of a larger wave of over two dozen arrests for wildfire evacuation zone violations and other crimes in Los Angeles County. The man, wearing a firefighter uniform, was stopped on Friday evening in Malibu, which was under a Palisades Fire evacuation order.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna recounted the encounter, stating, “When I was out there in the Malibu area, I saw a gentleman who looked like a firefighter, and I asked him if he was ok because he was sitting down. I didn’t realize we had him in handcuffs.”
The man, who claimed to be a firefighter, was later revealed to be impersonating one while burglarizing a home.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell added, “There were three individuals in a vehicle… One had on a fire jacket and a fire hat.”
The county’s strict curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in evacuation zones, along with increased patrols, aims to prevent further exploitation of victims.
McDonnell emphasized, “We have people who will go to all ends to do what they want to do to exploit the victims of this tragedy.”
As of the latest reports, around 29 individuals have been arrested for curfew violations, with others facing additional charges. Authorities continue to warn residents of scammers attempting to exploit the devastation caused by the fires.
