Looting taking a toll in tornado damaged Tuscaloosa

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

Looting a big problem in tornado damaged Tuscaloosa

This image shows damage from a tornado that hit Tuscaloosa

/ Ala.,City of Tuscaloosa

(CBS/WKRG/AP) TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Looting has become a serious problem in Tuscaloosa's storm-damaged communities.

According to CBS affiliate WKRG, police and National Guard troops are closely patrolling the streets, but say they can't keep every looter away from homes and businesses.

Several looting arrests have already been made and Attorney General Luther Strange said the cases will be taken seriously.

"I was just talking to an officer here in this area where we are, and they caught a guy stealing some goods out of a person's house 10 minutes ago in this location," Strange said Sunday. "That person has been arrested and we have made it clear that we are going to make prosecuting looters a high priority, hopefully discouraging people from coming to this area, and that's one of our missions."

Police say people are stealing anything they can get their hands on from homes and businesses.

The station reports that an 8 p.m. curfew is in effect in the city's storm damaged communities.

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by Danielmountain May 3, 2011 4:44 PM EDT: I think the only circumstance in which I'd consider looting is if I were starving.; Reply to this comment


by PR_in_Alabama May 3, 2011 4:10 PM EDT: Their been a few looter shot in north Alabama. I think the have balls to break into someones house or extablishment knowing that half of Alabama folks own weapons..; Reply to this comment


by Ericwvb May 3, 2011 3:47 PM EDT: A few things to keep in mind:

1) I agree that the main reason why there is less looting in Japan during natural disasters is the Japanese culture. I am sure the average Japanese person would feel deeply ashamed if they were caught looting.

2) However, it's a myth that there is "no looting" in Japan after disasters. "In Miyagi, police report 40 robberies by those taking advantage of the earthquake." You can google that yourself. There are criminals and looters in Japan as well, human nature is universal.

3) You have to remember that in Japan, there isn't this massive gap between the rich and the poor. The "gini index" of Japan is much more egalitarian than the United States, which is looking more and more like a banana republic every year thanks such things as 30 years of "voodoo economics." CEOs in the Japan do not make hundreds of times the salary of average workers. One reason people loot is because they are either desperately poor, or feel they are desperately poor because they know how so many rich live.; Reply to this comment


by nomorelibs May 3, 2011 3:40 PM EDT: Shoot on site! Scum bags do not deserve to walking the streets with descent people. Stealing from people in their lowest moment. How sad.; Reply to this comment

by jackcbrooks May 3, 2011 3:19 PM EDT

Obviously the police force is racist and targeting African Americans here for prosecution. You watch, they'll pick out blacks to arrest.

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by credibility2 May 3, 2011 4:40 PM EDT: ...if the majority of the criminal looters are black, arresting them isn't racist...it's what they deserve...


by xSugarMagnolias May 4, 2011 10:00 AM EDT: LOL! I hope so.


by credibility2 May 3, 2011 3:14 PM EDT: Criminals loot, civilized humans don't. Japan and Alabama, two contrasts in how the devastated should conduct themselves. One has intelligent civilized citizens, the other has the criminally uneducated low-lifes. I'm sure the latter will be whining and moaning about more government aid, too.; Reply to this comment

by kippertoo May 3, 2011 1:37 PM EDT

Oh yea, let the games begin. I'm embarrassed, as an American, to be even remotely associated with these disgusting thieves. Animals, they're nothing but filthy animals. Japan, on the other hand, while in the midst of not one, but two disasters, has proven to be a model for behavior that we ALL should try to follow. To those that are coping with the aftermath of the recent tornados WITHOUT adding to anyone elses misery, my thoughts and sympathies are with you all. To those of you who do CHOOSE to inflict additional pain on ANYONE, let alone anyone who has already suffered so much...I hope someone with a big gun catches you and blows your f****** head off.

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