Almost all looting suspects arrested in Florida county after hurricanes are illegal migrants: sheriff

Nearly each of nan heartless looters busted successful 1 Florida region pursuing hurricanes Helene and Milton were forbidden immigrants, according to section authorities.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said this play that 41 of nan 45 alleged looters rounded up connected equipped robbery, burglary, loitering, assistance theft, vandalism and trespassing charges connected their turf successful nan aftermath of nan 2 deadly storms are successful nan US illegally, Fox News said successful a report.

The sheriff’s agency besides said that different 196 group were caught successful nan area nether suspicious circumstances and questioned by deputies but had to beryllium released owed to deficiency of probable origin — pinch 163 of those individuals recovered to beryllium successful nan US illegally.

“A batch of these group were successful nan area to return others’ properties and our efforts prevented further crimes from occurring,” Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said astatine a property briefing.

“As nan Pinellas beaches recover, were gonna proceed these patrols and apprehension everyone we tin who is stealing from nan susceptible of 2 backmost to backmost storms that person devastated our community.”

The 2 monolithic storms slammed nan Florida seashore earlier this period successful back-to-back disasters, causing millions of dollars successful harm and sidesplitting much than a twelve group successful Pinellas County alone.

Gualtieri said 80 further deputies were deployed to areas successful nan region wherever residents were ordered to evacuate successful bid to support nan organization safe.

In summation tot he looters, another 58 group were charged pinch scamming hurricane victims retired of immoderate $250 cardinal for repairs they ne'er did — and successful astir cases ever intended to do.

It is unclear if immoderate of those were migrants.

“Our effort to protect nan organization has not stopped pinch these hurricanes’ nonstop impact,” nan sheriff said successful a statement. “We are now focused connected protecting our residents and our businesses who are hopeless to rebuild and get connected pinch their lives.”