Nine people have been charged with looting evacuated A-listers' homes during the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, with stolen items including an Emmy Award and £200,000 worth of valuables.
The suspects targeted properties in areas including Pacific Palisades and Mandeville Canyon after celebrities were urged to flee their homes due to mandatory evacuation orders.
Police have recovered the stolen Emmy Award, although officials have declined to reveal its owner's identity.
Authorities revealed that some suspects have even attempted to gain access to properties by impersonating firefighters.
In one case, three individuals were caught conducting "first-degree residential burglary and looting" at a house in Mandeville Canyon, stealing over £200,000 worth of valuables.
Another time, four people were apprehended after stealing an Emmy Award from a home in Altadena.
Several of the arrested individuals had previous criminal records, which could result in lengthy prison sentences if convicted.
"These are the criminals," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
"These are the people who are seeking to exploit this tragedy for their own benefit."
"The question is not if, but when, you will be caught if you engage in these crimes," Hochman warned at a press conference.
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"These crimes are appalling and represent a direct attack on our community during a time of unprecedented loss and vulnerability," he added.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna warned potential looters, declaring: "Everyone around me is hungry. When we catch people, we mean business."
"Stay out of the curfew area. Do not come here to do anything you shouldn't be doing. You're gonna get caught, and ... you're gonna get hammered."
National Guard military police have been deployed alongside local police officers and California Highway Patrol to maintain security in the affected areas.
Access to the affected areas remains heavily restricted, with only firefighters, utility workers and other recovery personnel in marked vehicles permitted through checkpoints.
In Topanga Canyon, community volunteer Seth Monk reported that the enhanced security presence appears to be making a difference, saying: "There's only a couple roads in and those are blocked off."
Media crews are among the few groups exempt from closure orders, with journalists passing through numerous checkpoints and credential checks across Malibu and along the Pacific Coast Highway, as dozens have already been arrested for violating closure orders.
The wildfires have continued to rampage through southern California, with Santa Ana winds gaining strength on Monday, hampering firefighting efforts.
At least 24 people have lost their lives in the blazes, including British-born former child star Rory Sykes, who was blind and had cerebral palsy.
The fires have destroyed thousands of homes and businesses since they began on January 7, as celebrities have lost their homes to the flames, including actors Adam Brody and Leighton Meester.
Find Out More...
The suspects targeted properties in areas including Pacific Palisades and Mandeville Canyon after celebrities were urged to flee their homes due to mandatory evacuation orders.
Police have recovered the stolen Emmy Award, although officials have declined to reveal its owner's identity.
Authorities revealed that some suspects have even attempted to gain access to properties by impersonating firefighters.
In one case, three individuals were caught conducting "first-degree residential burglary and looting" at a house in Mandeville Canyon, stealing over £200,000 worth of valuables.
Another time, four people were apprehended after stealing an Emmy Award from a home in Altadena.
Several of the arrested individuals had previous criminal records, which could result in lengthy prison sentences if convicted.
"These are the criminals," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
"These are the people who are seeking to exploit this tragedy for their own benefit."
"The question is not if, but when, you will be caught if you engage in these crimes," Hochman warned at a press conference.
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"These crimes are appalling and represent a direct attack on our community during a time of unprecedented loss and vulnerability," he added.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna warned potential looters, declaring: "Everyone around me is hungry. When we catch people, we mean business."
"Stay out of the curfew area. Do not come here to do anything you shouldn't be doing. You're gonna get caught, and ... you're gonna get hammered."
National Guard military police have been deployed alongside local police officers and California Highway Patrol to maintain security in the affected areas.
Access to the affected areas remains heavily restricted, with only firefighters, utility workers and other recovery personnel in marked vehicles permitted through checkpoints.
In Topanga Canyon, community volunteer Seth Monk reported that the enhanced security presence appears to be making a difference, saying: "There's only a couple roads in and those are blocked off."
Media crews are among the few groups exempt from closure orders, with journalists passing through numerous checkpoints and credential checks across Malibu and along the Pacific Coast Highway, as dozens have already been arrested for violating closure orders.
The wildfires have continued to rampage through southern California, with Santa Ana winds gaining strength on Monday, hampering firefighting efforts.
At least 24 people have lost their lives in the blazes, including British-born former child star Rory Sykes, who was blind and had cerebral palsy.
The fires have destroyed thousands of homes and businesses since they began on January 7, as celebrities have lost their homes to the flames, including actors Adam Brody and Leighton Meester.
Find Out More...