Looters dressed as firefighters & wannabe arsonists arrested in LA wildfires crime wave as crooks exploit city’s pain
THE grief-stricken streets of LA have been hit with disgusting looters and wannabe arsonists as cops crack down on shock wildfire crimes.
Criminals have sought to exploit the most vulnerable areas during the city's horrifying apocalyptic blaze as cops desperately attempt to arrest crooks.
Several LA neighborhoods have been decimated by the raging infernos that have killed 24 people and forced more than 100,000 to flee their homes.
Twisted criminals have unbelievably exploited the tragedy inflicted on California's biggest city by stealing from deserted homes.
Over two dozen people have been arrested including one alleged looter who reportedly dressed as a firefighter.
The alleged criminal was caught wearing a yellow fire jacket with the city's fire department's old acronym CDF, fire boots, and jeans.
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Los Angeles County Sherrif Robert Luna revealed a man was arrested for supposedly burglarizing mansions in the ultra-exclusive Malibu area.
He was caught going along the burnt-down beach houses worth millions of dollars.
The alleged crook was also arrested with another man as the pair were spotted on a scooter and a moped, according to the .
"When I was out in the Malibu area, I saw a gentleman that looked like a firefighter and asked him if he was okay because he was sitting down," Luna said.
"I didn't realize we had him in handcuffs.
"We were turning him over to LAPD because he was dressed like a fireman, and he was not. He just got caught burglarizing a home."
The fake firefighter reportedly attempted to claim he was from one of the city's fire departments but a quick check proved this false.
'FIRE STARTER'
Despite the tragedy and loss inflicted by these terror blazes, several suspected arsonists have reportedly been caught.
Police detained Ruben Montes, 29, for "actively lighting fires" in Irwindale, just 16 miles away from the horrifying Eaton Fire.
Firefighters reporting to a small bush blaze reportedly caught attempting to start a fire in the area.
What started the LA fires?
FIERCE and desperate questions into how these devestating wildfires could have ripped through Los Angeles to this extent have been raised.
These terrifying blazes started on Tuesday morning in the ultra-wealthy Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
It is feared this deadly inferno could have been sparked by fireworks.
A small blaze caused by fireworks on New Year's Day left scorch marks, according to .
Analysis of satellite images, radio communications, and videos revealed the deadly inferno began in an area close to where these fireworks flames were put out.
Residents claimed they were frustrated by an apparent slower response by firefighters to the second blaze.
Local Michael Valentine said he and his wife were home for both fires and claimed he was met with a long wait when they called the emergency services on Tuesday.
Crews were reportedly stuck dealing with two other incidents in different areas of the city.
Experts have claimed the perfect mix of strong winds and drought conditions could have caused the slight remnants of the previous fires to restart.
Investigators have launched a probe to investigate the cause of the devastating blaze but they have not revealed an official cause yet.
Another suspect reportedly wielding a blowtorch was tackled to the ground and bound with zip ties by horrified onlookers.
Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva, was allegedly seen blazing old Christmas trees and debris with what one local described as a "flamethrower", according to .
"Whether it’s looting, these internet scams, robbery or future arsons. … the day and age of a DA’s office standing on the sidelines is over," Hochman warned.
Cops revealed none of the people, who were caught in the evacuation zone areas, lived in the town.
Six of these people were found with "burglary tools," cops said.
Police revealed the shocking items they confiscated from one of these suspects, Joshua Kaliel Love, 29.
These included gloves, a dagger, a window-breaking tool, and a mask.
Suspects Dominic Pachecomanga, 18, and Miguel Angel Dorantes, 22, were caught driving a van without ID and with the Watch Duty app, which tracks the fires, open on their phones.
Police said this duo were found with dark clothing, ski masks, burglary tools, gloves, and a large bag.
Police pulled over Gabriel Isaih Stokes, 27, after his car showed up as a stolen vehicle.
The suspect was also caught with burglary tools, a ski mask, and a large bag, as well as fake IDs.
This comes as signs saying "no looters" and "looters will be shot" have popped up across the fire-ravaged and at-risk parts of LA.
Residents have been forced to take what measures they can to protect their abandoned homes as more people have been forced to evacuate due to the terror blaze.
SKIMS SCAMMERS
Disgusting criminals during the horrifying blaze have even attempted to use celebrity names as an act to steal money.
Kim Kardashian warned her followers to stay vigilant against people pretending to be her and asking for donations.
The reality TV icon shared images of supposed emails from fraudsters on her Instagram.
"This is not real, if anyone gets an email like this. How horrible." she wrote.
Authorities have also warned against scammers posing as fake charities in an attempt to steal donations.
Sick fraudsters have reportedly targeted vulnerable people like the elderly and non-English speakers.
FIRESTARTER
These tragic flames started on Tuesday morning in the coveted Pacific Palisades region, north of downtown LA.
Desperate questions have risen about how and why the city's worst-ever fire started.
The deadly fire could have reignited from scorch marks left by an earlier blaze believed to have been caused by fireworks set off on New Year's Eve, it is claimed.
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These remaining flames could have been restarted by strong winds that have been responsible for the deadly blaze's speed and power.
The tragic Pacific Palisades Fire started in the same area where firefighters put out the previous blaze, analysis of satellite images, radio communications and videos revealed.