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How much crime was there during the Palisades Fire? New report has numbers
An LAPD vehicle drives past a building destroyed by the Palisades Fire.
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Alexi Rosenfeld
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How much crime was there during the Palisades Fire? New report has numbers
Crime in the Palisades Fire burn area was a major concern in January and February, a period when more than 60,000 people were at times under evacuation orders. A recently released after-action report from the Los Angeles Police Department lists 19 arrests and 90 crime reports to the LAPD in those two months.
Topline:
Crime in the Palisades Fire burn area was a major concern in January and February, a period when more than 60,000 people were at times under evacuation orders. A recently released after-action report from the Los Angeles Police Department lists 19 arrests and 90 crime reports to the LAPD in those two months.
LAPD crime response: The report notes that thousands of homes were left unattended because of the mandatory evacuation. “To prevent looting and other criminal acts, crime suppression squads were assigned to specific ... [areas],” the report states, “ensuring high visibility and the ability to respond quickly to crimes in progress.”
Arrests and charges: Under a section titled “Crimes and Arrests,” the report lists 19 arrests and the associated charges:
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How much crime was there during the Palisades Fire? New report has numbers
- Entering Closed Disaster Area (4).
- State of Emergency Violation (3).
- Burglary (2).
- Conspiracy to Commit Crime (2).
- Unauthorized Wearing of Fire Department Badge to Deceive (1).
- Impersonating a Police Officer (1).
- Take Vehicle Without Owner’s Consent (1).
- Driving under the influence (1).
- Possession of Ammunition by Prohibited Person (1).
- Trespass (1).
- Vandalism (1).
- Resisting Executive Officer / Obstructing or Threatening Officer (1).
Crimes reported: The report also lists the following reports of crimes:
- Burglary (24)
- Other (16)
- Theft (11)
- Identity Theft (10)
- Vehicle Theft (6)
- Vandalism (6)
- Theft from Vehicle (5)
- Aggravated Assault (3)
- Simple Assault (3)
- Weapons Violation (2)
- Fraud (2)
- Robbery (1)
- Forgery (1)
Other takeaways: The report contains findings and recommendations that echo other recent after-action reports — including one by the Los Angeles Fire Department, and one prepared for the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. Similar to the LAFD, the L.A. County Fire Department, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and other county agencies, the LAPD struggled with internal and external communication and coordination, as well as technology, during the fire. You can read the LAPD’s specific recommendations in the section labeled “Critique.”
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