Curfew orders put in place for Palisades and Eaton fire zones as authorities warn of looters and scammers

Curfew orders have been put in place for the Palisades and Eaton fire evacuation zones in what authorities say is an effort to guard against potential looting.

It's unclear how widespread the problem is. Roughly 153,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders, which translates to a lot of vacant homes. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said about 20 people have been arrested for a combination of looting and burglarizing. Pasadena police said they’ve arrested five people.

More than 400 deputies have been assigned to the fire zones, including “looter suppression” units in plainclothes, Luna said. He urged people to call authorities if they see any suspicious activity.

“If you see people out there and you believe they are behaving in a suspicious way, they are raising the hair on the back of your neck, please call,” Luna said.

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He noted it's a misdemeanor to remain in an area once you’ve been ordered out.

Under the curfew order, nobody is allowed to be on the streets in the fire areas between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. starting Friday night. Local law enforcement along with California National Guard troops will enforce it.

Officials are also issuing stern warnings against looters who may be thinking about taking advantage of people who have lost their homes or been evacuated.

Luna called it a “heinous” crime to loot somebody’s home “at their lowest point.”

Supervisor Kathryn Barger added: “To those who want to loot, the full weight of the county will come down on you.”

Potential scams

Authorities are also warning residents against scams.

“While the community rallies to support one another, we are also aware of the individuals who are targeting vulnerable victims to prey on this misfortune, seeking to exploit the vulnerability of those who have already endured so much,” Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement.

The most common fraud that occurs in the aftermath of a disaster generally involves price gouging, offers of debris removal, and fraudulent charitable solicitations, according to the California Department of Insurance.

Price gouging involves people charging exorbitantly high prices for necessities like food, water, generators and temporary housing.

“California’s price gouging law protects people impacted by an emergency from illegal price gouging on housing, gas, food, and other essential supplies,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. “If you see price gouging — or if you've been the victim of it — I encourage you to immediately file a complaint with my office.”

Unlicensed contractors also often are a problem, posing as legitimate contractors without proper licensing or qualifications, and offer quick, cheap repairs with poor quality work. Always check for proper licensing and insurance before hiring any contractor. And compare quotes from at least three different contractors before committing to a repair.

These are some of the other common scams after a disaster:

• Fake charitable donations: Individuals or organizations claiming to be legitimate charities but instead pocket the donations intended for fire victims. Only donate to well-established and reputable charities.

• Fraudulent insurance adjusters: Individuals impersonating adjusters to access personal information and potentially defraud insurance claims. Never give personal information to someone claiming to be an insurance adjuster without verifying their identity with your insurance company.

• “Too good to be true” housing deals: Offers of temporary housing that seems extremely cheap but may have hidden fees or poor conditions.

Generally, be cautious of high-pressure tactics, according to the state Insurance Department. Don’t rush into decisions, and be wary of contractors who pressure you to sign contracts immediately.

“Let it be clearly known that those who seek to illegally profit from the pain and suffering of others — whether through looting, fraud, theft, burglary, or any other form of criminal activity — will not go unpunished,” Hochman said.