As Hurricane Irma’s eye was crossing over central Florida on Sunday, looters were caught trying to take advantage of the frightening situation, ABC News reports. Florida law enforcement played double duty saving the stranded and needy while also arresting alleged thieves for swiping goods from businesses and homes after one of the largest evacuations in Florida’s history. In Broward County, two 17-year-olds were caught entering a home around 3 a.m. on Sunday while the owners were out of the country, said the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
At a press conference Monday, Broward’s sheriff, Scott Israel, issued a warning to potential looters. “If you looted and we find out who you are, you will go to jail,” he said.Fort Lauderdale law enforcement officers arrested 19 people on Sunday for looting. Two people were taken into custody for trying to break into a home, a Fort Lauderdale police spokeswoman said. ABC News affiliate WPLG shot video of a group of shoppers who allegedly made their own entrance into a closed Simon’s Sportswear store by entering and exiting through a large, broken glass cavity. In the footage, one man is seen walking off with multiple boxes before entering a silver SUV. Police Chief Rick Maglione called the idea of stealing sneakers while Irma was lashing the city “a fairly bad life choice.”