More Than 16 Looters Arrested in New York in Superstorm Sandy Aftermath

With several East Coast cities still underwater, in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy and power cuts all over the East Coast, looters might have the advantage over residents in the United States.

According to the NY Post, more than 16 looters have been arrested so far in the Rockaways and Coney Island. Some looters dressed as Con Ed employees in New York City, trying to get away unnoticed.

“Guys were looting, pretending they were Con Ed and holding people up. It was sick,” Brooklyn cab driver Eric Martine said.

Several Seaport stores have been rampaged by the storm, and merchandise is just lying around for the taking.

“I saw two people walking by the Ann Taylor store and reach in and take some shirts that were just laying right there by the mannequin,” one witness said.

The New York State Police department have instituted an “anti-looting patrol” as a precautionary measure, the Huffington Post informs.

So far, two men and one woman have been arrested for robbing a gas station on Beach Channel Drive, and they are not the only ones. Four people, three men and one woman, allegedly ransacked a Radio Shack store on Beach 88th Street and were caught doing so.

Two more targeted a clothing store near Beach 86th Street, according to police reports. On Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island, an entire commercial block was looted. Seven people have been arrested in connection to the Coney Island robberies.

Store owners lie helplessly as Sandy has destroyed their property and looters took what was left.

“Almost everything is gone. [...] We want to reopen but we don’t know how,” store owner Mirza Baig said.

The police is planning to show no tolerance to those taking advantage of the situation brought on by the storm. “We will not tolerate these scumbags looting. We will arrest them on sight,” one police source said.