Looting after Hurricane Sandy

Usually, the very impact of a natural disaster can cause some people to revert to criminal activity. Is New Jersey any different? Maybe. In a showing of how much New Jersey people care about each other, there have been only a few reports of looting in the state after Hurricane Sandy, according to Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa.

Of course, that does not mean that looting and other crimes will not occur in the aftermath. Chiesa pointed out that the state is on the alert for potential criminal activity: “We have been in contact with all the county prosecutors to make sure they have the resources they need from us.” The National Guard will also help watch storefronts that are vulnerable to crime due to their lack of power.

High alert during and after stressful events can mean that police officers are more apt to accuse people of crimes they did not commit. For example, someone searching through a store may be accused of looting when they, in fact, own the property.

Regardless of fault, if prosecutors charge you with any crime related to the Hurricane, you need a strong defense to protect your rights. Looting and burglary charges are more severe than most people understand them to be.

In New Jersey, if you are charged with burglary, you can face penalties for a third degree crime, which include up to five years in prison and $15,000 in fines. If, while attempting burglary, you recklessly or purposefully inflict or threaten bodily harm to someone with a deadly weapon, the penalties jump to up to 10 years in prison and up to $150,000 in fines.

Source: Nj.com, “Attorney General: No reports of looting in N.J. after Sandy, additional security in place,” Christopher Baxter, Oct. 31, 2012