Videos: Anti-Looting Squads Deployed in New Orleans as City Left Devastated by Hurricane Ida
03:09 GMT 31.08.2021 (Updated: 13:23 GMT 06.08.2022)
© REUTERS / DEVIKA KRISHNA KUMAR
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On Sunday, the storm triggered a 100% power outage in the birthplace of jazz, with residents unable to reach 911 services. The authorities have confirmed at least two deaths, but the number is likely to increase.
Police in New Orleans have deployed anti-looting teams to protect property as the city has been devastated by Hurricane Ida, which hit the US state of Louisiana as a Category 4 storm. (It has now weakened into a Category 1.)
"#NOPD has deployed anti-looting teams across the city in order to protect our citizens' property as we continue the recovery process. Looting will NOT be tolerated and encourage everyone to be good neighbors and say something when you see something," New Orleans Police Department said in a statement posted on Facebook on Monday.
Reports of looting incidents came on Monday, after New Orleans was left without electricity as energy facilities were damaged due to the hurricane.
Footage circulating online purportedly shows citizens engaging in criminal behavior as stores are seen plundered and trashed.
NEW - Purported video of looting in New Orleans, Louisiana amid Hurrcaine Ida's devastationpic.twitter.com/6LufkHGewn
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) August 30, 2021
Looting at the Dowman Rd @DollarGeneral store in New Orleans East. NOPD just arrived and took at least one person into custody. The store is trashed. #LootingAlert #looting #HurricaneIda2021 #HurricaneIda #nopd @NOPDNews @WWLTV #NewOrleans #BeOn4 pic.twitter.com/LsxGufmCm0
— Beau Zimmer WTSP (@BeauWTSP) August 30, 2021
Drone footage also captured a looter trying to break into an ATM machine in an area reportedly burned down hours earlier before he realizes he is not alone there.
The moment looters realize a drone is watching them try to break into an ATM maching in burned down St. Claude market in the lower 9th ward. #hurricaneIda #looting pic.twitter.com/PtPGO7ZPGE
— WXChasing (Brandon Clement) (@bclemms) August 30, 2021
Police have already arrested some of the criminals they have been able to identify, according to Fox News.
