Police in Florida are reporting that dozens have been arrested for looting stores and homes and breaking curfew after mass evacuations; the curfews were set to protect life and property.
Miami police, for instance, released a photo showing suspects in custody. The caption warned, “Thinking about looting? Ask these guys how that tuned [sic] out”:
Miami Deputy Police Chief Luis Cabrera noted that a group using a white truck had hit several stores as Hurricane Irma rolled across the region, Fox 59 reported.
Nine were arrested for looting after TV news WPLG took video of the group allegedly smashing the windows of a sportswear shop in Fort Lauderdale.
“Going to prison over a pair of sneakers is a fairly bad life choice,” Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione said in a statement. “Stay home and look after your loved once and be thankful they are all safe”:
#FLPD Looters ARRESTED! 9 individuals were arrested Looting CashAmerica Pawn & Simon's on W Sunrise Blvd. pic.twitter.com/1pLR66I8TD
— Fort Lauderdale PD (@FLPD411) September 10, 2017
Police in Orlando also arrested several suspects and charged them with burglary:
Burglary call at sporting goods store has been peacefully resolved. Two suspects in custody. No officers hurt: pic.twitter.com/nJppsK7MYq
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) September 11, 2017
Palm Beach police reported that they arrested 25 suspects, mostly for breaking the 3 p.m. curfew on Saturday. The penalty could bring the suspects a $500 fine and as many as 60 days in jail.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.
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