About 29 people have been arrested so far in Los Angeles in connection with criminal activity related to the ongoing wildfires, including a robbery suspect who allegedly tried to disguise himself as a firefighter, authorities said Sunday. .
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 25 of those arrested were in the Eaton Fire area, while the remaining four were from the Palisades Fire evacuation area.
“When I went to the Malibu area, I saw a gentleman who looked like a firefighter, and he was sitting there, so I asked him if he was OK. I didn't know he was handcuffed,” Luna recalled. reporters. “We're turning him over to the LAPD because he was dressed like a firefighter, but he wasn't. He just got arrested for a home invasion. So these issues… This is a problem that our frontline lawmakers and police officers are grappling with.”
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonald said one person was arrested Saturday night for violating the city's curfew, and three others were arrested the night before on suspicion of robbery.
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“There were three people in the vehicle. They were stopped. They were in a place they weren't supposed to be. One person was wearing a fire jacket and a fire hat. They were also arrested on suspicion of impersonating a firefighter. ,” McDonald said. “We have people who will do everything they can to exploit the victims of this tragedy so that they can do what they want.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna speaks during the Eaton Fire press conference at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 9, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
The police chief warned that the curfew from 6pm to 6am local time will continue from Sunday night until Monday.
“There's no reason to be in these areas unless you're a public safety worker or other disaster worker,” McDonald said. “And if you are in those areas, you will be subject to arrest. Curfew enforcement is an important tool to ensure the safety of fire scenes and evacuated properties and to deter looters. This will also help protect public safety personnel who operate in the dark, in extremely difficult situations. ”
He also said there are threats from downed power lines and toxic emissions from burned plastic and other composite materials. He warned people considering donating to victims to be careful to check the charity and verify its legitimacy.
Firefighters struggle to extinguish a wildfire that has burned thousands of acres and destroyed homes in Los Angeles on January 12, 2024. (Lokman Vral Elibor/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Luna warns scammers seeking to profit from wildfire victims through robbery and “white collar” crime, saying he is in close contact with local, state and federal prosecutors. .
“They're all eager to prosecute anyone who takes advantage of the population during this very difficult time, whether it's robbery, white-collar crimes such as fraud, or whatever you're trying to do. “I'm doing it,” he said. Said.
Kathryn Berger, chairwoman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said in a press conference that she has sent a letter to President-elect Trump inviting him to visit wildfire-affected sites.
A view of burned homes and cars in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood during the Palisades Wildfire in Los Angeles, California, on January 11, 2025. (Teyfan Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“I look forward to welcoming President-elect Trump to our community so that we can not only address the dire needs of our impacted neighbors, but also provide them with incredible opportunity, hope, and perseverance.” “I can help him understand. By seeing this hope, I am confident that our community will recover and rebuild,” she said.
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Berger and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass both said they were communicating with senior officials in the incoming administration and rejected the reporter's suggestion that they were hostile.
