As if the risk of losing their homes isn91裸聊视频檛 enough, wildfire evacuees in B.C. have faced the additional threat of looters searching through their belongings after they rushed to safety.
Rob Gordon, a criminologist at Simon Fraser University in Surrey, says looting is an unfortunate but routine part of virtually every natural disaster, from fires to floods, hurricanes to earthquakes.
RELATED:
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 predatory behaviour of the worst kind,91裸聊视频� Gordon said, adding that looters are opportunists.
91裸聊视频淭here is nothing especially organized. People just see a chance to make off with somebody else91裸聊视频檚 possessions, and they91裸聊视频檒l do it if they can get away with it.91裸聊视频�
The RCMP said they have arrested a half-dozen people accused of exploiting the disaster over the past week.
Emergency officials have ordered thousands of residents to lock up and leave since the province declared a state of emergency on July 7 after hundreds of fires started across B.C.91裸聊视频檚 central and southern Interior.
RELATED:
Gordon said looters are often locals who have had an eye on a particular house or business. Besides cash, the most likely items to be stolen are typically small, portable and easy to resell, such as electronics, jewelry and guns, he said.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a market in firearms,91裸聊视频� he explained. 91裸聊视频淎nd they91裸聊视频檙e, generally speaking, quite easy to move.91裸聊视频�
To help prevent looting, Gordon would like to see police train volunteer safety officers who would remain in their communities during an emergency, when it91裸聊视频檚 safe to do so.
91裸聊视频淢y betting is there would be a lot of people willing to go back into their communities to protect their property and the property of their neighbours,91裸聊视频� he said, comparing it to a volunteer firefighting program.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a model of emergency service which is already in place in many respects,91裸聊视频� Gordon said of auxiliary policing systems. 91裸聊视频淎 lot of communities have them. The Gulf Islands have them. I91裸聊视频檓 just surprised that is not the case in the Interior.91裸聊视频�
Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson said he has been receiving reports of 91裸聊视频渇ake fire marshals91裸聊视频� knocking on doors telling residents their street is under an evacuation alert.
RELATED:
91裸聊视频淲e believe that these are people potentially looking for opportunities to rob vacant homes,91裸聊视频� Simpson said.
91裸聊视频淢ost of my thoughts are unprintable. I think it91裸聊视频檚 unconscionable that these individuals take advantage of this situation.91裸聊视频�
Swindlers are not necessarily always on the ground when emergencies hit. Evan Kelly of the Better Business Bureau warned about scam artists who set up fake crowdfunding websites to take money illegally.
91裸聊视频淚t really comes down to the emotional aspect, and that91裸聊视频檚 what scammers are trying to capitalize on here,91裸聊视频� he said, describing such cons as 91裸聊视频渢he lowest of the low.91裸聊视频�
Kelly encouraged people interested in donating online to contribute to charities that have registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. Door-to-door solicitors should be able to provide a tax receipt immediately without leaving the front step, he added.
Geordon Omand, The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on .
