Hurricane Sandy Aftermath: Scattered reports of looting in areas of New York, New Jersey

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - At least 11 more people have been arrested in New York City for looting businesses in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, reports CBS New York.

A total of 15 people have been arrested for looting in the Rockaways section of the borough of Queens since the storm hit Monday.

On Staten Island, the district attorney's office announced Wednesday that two men were arrested for allegedly breaking into a Rent-A-Center by throwing a brick through the window, and three more were arrested for allegedly attempting to saw through a lock and open a gate to a store, reports the Staten Island Advance.

There have also been reports of looting in New Jersey. According to the Asbury Park Press, police say there has been looting at arcade machines the Keansburg Amusement Park.

The Associated Press reports that some Manhattan galleries have hired private security and that apartment building superintendents are turning into de-facto guards. In Coney Island, about 100 police officers stood on corners or cruised in cars to guard a strip of vandalized stores and a damaged bank, to the relief of shaken residents.

In Queens, the suspects have all been charged with burglary and other crimes from looting and robbing a liquor store, clothing stores and a Radio Shack, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

"I want to make it clear that such lawlessness will be vigorously prosecuted by my office and that we will seek appropriate punishment," said Brown in a release.

On Coney Island, New York One Beauty Supplies on Mermaid Avenue appeared to have had a car driven through the metal gates, allowing a thief in to make off with the cash register, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported. Jones also reported that a Citibank next door appeared to have hammer holes around some of the ATMs.

Another shop owner in the area reportedly drove up to assess the damage, only to find men with crowbars trying to help themselves to items inside.

"I called the police, I told the police 'come see what's going on here,' and the police came," the store owner said.

In Nassau County, on Long Island, police announced the arrests of four men on looting charges. The men apparently fled before taking anything from Expressions in Hempstead when the store's alarm sounded, police said.

The men were pulled over in a traffic stop and during the investigation, a clear bag of marijuana along with screw drivers, a hammer and flashlight were discovered on the floor of the vehicle, according to Nassau police.

Two of the suspects were charged with burglary while the other two charged with possession of burglars tools, according to police.