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About 29 people arrested Los Angeles has seen criminal activity related to the ongoing wildfires so far, including a burglary suspect who allegedly tried to pose as a firefighter, officials said Sunday.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 25 of those arrested were from the Eaton Fire area and four were from the Palisades Fire evacuation zone.
“While I was in the Malibu area, I saw a gentleman who looked like a firefighter. I asked him if he was okay because he was sitting down. I didn’t realize we had handcuffs on him,” Luna recalled Reporter. “We turned him over to the LAPD because he was dressed like a firefighter, which he was not. He had just been busted for a burglary. So these are issues that our frontline deputies and officers are dealing with.”
Los Angeles Police Department One person was arrested Saturday night for violating the city’s curfew order, and three others were arrested the night before on suspicion of burglary, department Chief Jim McDonald said.
“There were three people in a vehicle. They were stopped. They were somewhere they weren’t supposed to be. One of them was wearing a fire jacket and a fire hat. He was also arrested for impersonating a firefighter,” McDonald said. “We have people who will go to any lengths to do what they want to do to exploit the victims of this tragedy.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna speaks during an Eaton Fire news conference at the Rose Bowl Stadium on January 9, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
this chief warning A curfew of 6 pm to 6 am local time remains in effect from Sunday night into Monday.
“Unless you are a public safety or other disaster relief worker, you have no reason to be at these locations,” McDonald said. “If you are in these areas, you will be arrested. The curfew is in place to ensure that burned areas and evacuated properties are safe ”
He also said downed power lines and toxins from burning plastic and other composite materials posed threats. The chief warned people looking to donate to victims to be careful and research charities to verify their legitimacy.
Firefighters fight to control wildfires that have burned thousands of acres and destroyed homes in Los Angeles on January 12, 2024. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Luna issued a warning to scammers looking to profit from burglaries or “white collar” crimes committed by wildfire victims, and he has been in close communication with local, state and federal prosecutors.
“They are all keen to prosecute anyone who is taking advantage of our residents during this very difficult time, whether it’s some kind of white-collar crime in burglary or fraud, or anything you might want to do,” he said.
At a news conference, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Katherine Barger said she sent a letter to President-elect Trump inviting him to visit wildfire devastation.
Burnt houses and cars in the Pacific Palisades community during the Palisades wildfire on January 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu, Getty Images)
“I look forward to welcoming President-elect Trump to our community so he can see the desperate needs, as well as the incredible opportunity, hope and perseverance of our impacted neighbors. It is seeing this hope that drives me To believe that our community will recover and rebuild,” she said.
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Barger and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said they have been communicating with senior officials in the incoming administration, rejecting suggestions from a reporter who claimed there was any hostility.
