The Los Angeles County district attorney promised on Saturday to bring down the hammer on any looters or scammers who attempt to exploit the devastating fires raging in the area.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman told Fox News that he was warning any would-be criminal that his office would be prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law and throwing the “full book” at anyone arrested. Reports have already come out of Los Angeles of looters going into neighborhoods amid the fires that first responders are still struggling to contain.
“I want to send an unmistakably clear message to those who are thinking about looting, to those who are thinking about burglary, robbery, grand theft, to those who want to get on the internet and defraud people who have suffered this tragedy: you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted, and you will be punished to the full extent of the law,” Hochman said in an interview.
According to the latest updates available from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, there are multiple major fires still blazing throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties that are not fully contained. The data show just 11% containment for the Palisades Fire (22,660 acres), 15% containment for the Eaton Fire (14,117 acres), 80% for the Kenneth Fire (1,052 acres), and 76% for the Hurst Fire (799 acres).
Police have already arrested on suspect they believe was behind the Kenneth Fire.
“I know that prior to my taking office, people might have thought you could commit crimes and nothing is going to happen,” Hochman said, referring to the leftist policies of previous DA George Gascon. “Let me assure you: if you get caught — and you will get caught — the full book will be thrown at you and maximum punishment will be sought.”
He said that a federal, local, and state task force was being put together to go after looters and scammers.
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“The warning shot is to deter them from doing it in the first place,” he added. “This is your warning. The minute you cross that line, we’re going be coming after you with the full force of the law.”
Previously on Thursday, Hochman promised during an interview with NewsNation that “justice will be swift” and that “the day and age of a DA’s office standing on the sidelines is over.”
Hochman defeated Gascon in November after running on a tough-on-crime platform and promising to bring back law and order.
“The voters of Los Angeles County have spoken and have said enough is enough of D.A. Gascón’s pro-criminal extreme policies; they look forward to a safer future,” Hochman said after his victory.
