As wildfires rage across Los Angeles, police are working to quash not only the flames but also the falsehoods, firmly dismissing online rumors of looting in the affected areas.
"The LAPD remains vigilant during the ongoing fires throughout the City of LA and has deployed officers for high visibility patrol during the tactical alert," LAPD posted on X early Wednesday morning. "At this time, we have received no information regarding looting or other criminal activity in the affected areas."
The LAPD remains vigilant during the ongoing fires throughout the City of LA and has deployed officers for high visibility patrol during the tactical alert. At this time, we have received no information regarding looting or other criminal activity in the affected areas.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) January 8, 2025
Various rumors of looting have cropped up across social media.
"JUST IN: Reports of looting underway in the Pacific Palisades area, as LAFD requests additional resources 'People are trying to break into homes up here!' This is freaking Armageddon," Nick Sortor posts.
🚨 JUST IN: Reports of looting underway in the Pacific Palisades area, as LAFD requests additional resources
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 8, 2025
“People are trying to break into homes up here!”
This is freaking Armageddon.
(via @thinktankfranks) pic.twitter.com/5JYCBmXbEb
"Sprawling mansions owned by celebrities and the '1%' that were seen burning earlier today are now a target of mass looting. Dozens of 911 looting calls reported tonight," posts CalWire, an X account set up for news updates on California.
WATCH
— CAL WIRE (@calwireupdates) January 8, 2025
Scanner Audio of Looting calls coming from the #PalisadesFire
Sprawling mansions owned by celebrities and the “1%” that were seen burning earlier today are now a target of mass looting. Dozens of 911 looting calls reported tonight
Follow @calwireupdates for more… pic.twitter.com/8UvGsG4xBS
"Looters are now taking advantage of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area and breaking into evacuated homes. Sickening," posts OSINTdefender, an "Open Source Intelligence Monitor" account.
Looters are now taking advantage of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area and breaking into evacuated homes. Sickening. https://t.co/sB9cpC4YSd
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 8, 2025
The Palisades fire has already destroyed homes and businesses, forcing about 45,000 residents to evacuate. The fire, which has burned nearly 3,000 acres, remains uncontained, with strong winds worsening the situation and hindering firefighting efforts. Mandatory evacuations were expanded to include eastern Glendale, all of La Cañada Flintridge and northern Monrovia.
Two other fires near Altadena and Sylmar also remain uncontained, and evacuation orders have been issued for these areas as well. Schools in Santa Monica, Malibu, and Pasadena will be closed on Wednesday due to the fires.
President Joe Biden, who has been briefed regularly on the situation, urged residents to stay alert and follow the guidance of local authorities. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized funds to assist in the firefighting efforts.
