As if the risk of losing their homes isn香蕉视频直播檛 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.
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香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 predatory behaviour of the worst kind,香蕉视频直播� Gordon said, adding that looters are opportunists.
香蕉视频直播淭here is nothing especially organized. People just see a chance to make off with somebody else香蕉视频直播檚 possessions, and they香蕉视频直播檒l do it if they can get away with it.香蕉视频直播�
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.香蕉视频直播檚 central and southern Interior.
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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.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a market in firearms,香蕉视频直播� he explained. 香蕉视频直播淎nd they香蕉视频直播檙e, generally speaking, quite easy to move.香蕉视频直播�
To help prevent looting, Gordon would like to see police train volunteer safety officers who would remain in their communities during an emergency, when it香蕉视频直播檚 safe to do so.
香蕉视频直播淢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,香蕉视频直播� he said, comparing it to a volunteer firefighting program.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a model of emergency service which is already in place in many respects,香蕉视频直播� Gordon said of auxiliary policing systems. 香蕉视频直播淎 lot of communities have them. The Gulf Islands have them. I香蕉视频直播檓 just surprised that is not the case in the Interior.香蕉视频直播�
Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson said he has been receiving reports of 香蕉视频直播渇ake fire marshals香蕉视频直播� knocking on doors telling residents their street is under an evacuation alert.
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香蕉视频直播淲e believe that these are people potentially looking for opportunities to rob vacant homes,香蕉视频直播� Simpson said.
香蕉视频直播淢ost of my thoughts are unprintable. I think it香蕉视频直播檚 unconscionable that these individuals take advantage of this situation.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚t really comes down to the emotional aspect, and that香蕉视频直播檚 what scammers are trying to capitalize on here,香蕉视频直播� he said, describing such cons as 香蕉视频直播渢he lowest of the low.香蕉视频直播�
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
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