Five people have been arrested in North Carolina for allegedly looting in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.
The Wilmington Police Department said that late on Saturday, Sept. 15, police officers arrested five people who had broken in and looted a Dollar General store.
The store is located at the intersection of 5th Street and Dawson Street.
The department said that charges were pending.
Fox News reporter Marta Dhanis captured video footage of another Dollar Store, located at 13th Street and Greenfield Street, also being looted. “We just passed by and shot some video,” she said via Twitter. CBS reporter Hannah Brewer also posted video footage of the looting.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: @WilmingtonPD has alerted for some looting happening in #Wilmington including at this Family Dollar Store at 13th & Greenfield Sts. We just passed by and shot some video pic.twitter.com/N9CtN7RVtv
— Marta Dhanis (@MartaDhanis) September 15, 2018
EXCLUSIVE: This is video I shot outside a Family Dollar in Wilmington. @WilmingtonPD say they are aware of the looting and were told not to intervene by store management. #HurricaneFlorence has turned #wilmingtonNC into chaos @WFMY pic.twitter.com/5d7IX5iKWJ
— Hannah Brewer (@hbrewernews) September 15, 2018
WECT reporter Chelsea Donovan, on the scene outside that store, said that dozens of people that looted the store were carrying items to the public housing community of Houston Moore.
Before the arrests at the other store were announced the department stated that management at the store apparently asked police officers not to intervene for an undisclosed reason.
But the police department added just prior to the arrests: “Wilmington Police are identifying looters who took items from a local Family Dollar Store Saturday afternoon, despite initial concerns from the store management we will charge them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Owner Changes His Mind
Wilmington Deputy Police Chief Mitch Cunningham told ABC that officers spoke to the owner of the store, and the owner changed his mind.
“Initially our officers responded to the first one that occurred, and unfortunately the owner did not want to pursue charges,” Cunningham said. “Later in contact with the owner he reversed his decision, we’re working with the DA and charges will be filed.”
“It’s important to take a strong stand against looting,” he added. “This community has been through a lot right now and we feel very strongly that looters are exploiting people that are vulnerable at a time like this. We need to take a strong stance. The owner agreed with us and therefore it’s under investigation.”
Felony
District Attorney Ben David told WECT that looters should be prosecuted.
“It is a felony,” David said. “These are serious crimes, and they are going to be seriously punished.”
Looting got so bad in Wilmington on Saturday that the city announced an extended curfew for some areas to try to get it under control.
“In response to looting in the area, an extended curfew is now in place for the block between 13th, 14th, Greenfield, and Martin Streets. This curfew went into effect at 5 p.m. and will remain in effect until 6 a.m.,” the city said via Twitter. “The citywide curfew will run from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.”
