Looting Fuels 250% Crime Surge in Fire-Devastated Altadena

Crime has surged 250% in Altadena following the devastating Eaton Fire, with burglary rates specifically spiking approximately 400%, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Looters are targeting evacuated homes and stealing copper wiring from damaged properties, prompting authorities to more than double patrols in the fire zone.

In a recent law enforcement operation targeting copper and metal thefts, a Sheriff’s Department sting netted 15 suspects in just 16 hours. Eight face felony charges and seven face misdemeanor charges, according to Lt. Ethan Márquez of the Altadena Sheriff’s Station.

Deputies arrested one suspect on April 13 after finding approximately 500 pounds of metal piping in his car.

Authorities report that suspects, often operating at night, enter burned homes to remove copper, metal wiring, and piping to sell for scrap.

Some thieves have escalated their tactics by impersonating officials and using technology to bypass security systems, according to media reports.

In response to the crime wave, the Sheriff’s Department has formed a Looter Suppression Team, enlisted specialized anti-theft teams, and conducted checks on hundreds of uninhabited properties. They have also increased helicopter flyovers and drone surveillance in the area.

“These efforts ensure continuous 24-hour patrolling to provide a consistent and visible law enforcement presence, particularly in neighborhoods still dealing with utility outages and heightened security risks,” the Department said in a statement.

Early in the disaster, Sheriff Robert Luna issued a direct warning to looters: “You will be held accountable.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department offers a home-check program where residents can request deputies to patrol their properties. Requests can be sent to altadenahomecheck@lasd.org.

Some community advocates have raised concerns about the looting narrative. According to Sadio Woods, a member of Essie Justice Group, in surveys of Altadena residents about their needs following the fire, “Zero percent of those folks said anything about crime or looting.”

Some returning residents have alleged they were stopped by officials and “questioned as looters.”

“The rebuild is going to take several years and the sheriff’s department and Altadena station is committed to the community. And we’re going to keep bringing additional resources in as long as we can to make sure that the theft and all the crime is reduced,” Lt. Márquez said.