After Easter Sunday's EF3 tornado ripped through parts of Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia, concerns about looting began to grow.
Residents were already taking a financial hit from job losses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. So when natural disaster struck, concern for looting was at the forefront for many, and they took those concerns to social media.
But according to data from local law enforcement agencies, reports of looting haven't actually been as high as some have claimed on social media.
In Bradley County, two arrests have been made for looting in the tornado-affected area, one for burglary and one for theft - the two charges that would fall under the definition of looting, Bradley County Sheriff's Office spokesman Taylor Woodruff said.
"I believe that is one of the most disrespectful things that could be done to those who have already lost so much," Sheriff Steve Lawson said. "Between my deputies and the generous assistance of [Cleveland police] Chief [Mark] Gibson and his officers, I believe we were able to lessen the amount of looting in those areas. I thank them for their help."
In Chattanooga, police have taken four reports for burglary and four reports of theft in the areas affected by the tornado since April 13, most of which were reported in neighborhoods surrounding Hamilton Place Mall. In addition to that, police arrested four suspects on April 17 who were accused of posing as law enforcement while looting damaged homes.
Some of the items reported stolen are house keys, electronics, jewelry, a vehicle license plate, an electric scooter, a cross terrain wheelchair and a chainsaw.
In one instance, a homeowner in the 2200 block of Launcelot Road returned home to find her garage door off its hinges and some electronics and alcohol missing. In that case, she thought it could have been a contractor she hired, though responding officers couldn't confirm that at the time.
What you can do to protect your property
Local law enforcement agencies have roving patrols throughout affected areas during the day and overnight. But here are a few things you can do to make your property less attractive to looters:-Increased communication with neighbors — determine who’s staying and who’s leaving so you have a better idea who should or should not be entering someone’s home.-Board up broken windows and reinforce damaged doors as soon as possible remove the most/more valuable items from the home.-Installing solar powered motion detector lights and/or security cameras — looters are much less likely to target property that is well lit or under surveillance, and video footage helps investigators identify suspects more quickly.-Finally, if you see someone or something suspicious, contact police immediately.Source: Chattanooga Police Department and Bradley County Sheriff’s Office
In another case, a person reported someone trying to sell auto parts he allegedly stole from an East Brainerd Road store that had been flattened by the tornado.
"CPD will do everything we can to help those who've already lost so much and protect what they have left," police Chief David Roddy said. "Preying on people who've survived this disaster is not something this department will tolerate."
For Amber Holloway, the increase in police presence has given her peace of mind.
Her Ooltewah home sustained minimal damage - a cracked window and broken gate - so she and her husband have been able to still live in it. But their neighborhood went without power, and she's been afraid of staying home alone while her husband works, especially after dark.
"I have felt better with the road blocks and police around, but it was just scary when we had no power," she said via Facebook message. "I never seen anyone around my property but not being able to call 911 / use my phone also just made me more nervous and paranoid. My dog would bark at everything and I wouldn't take her out after dark until my husband was home. I am a person who is easily spooked and paranoid though. I just locked up my house and stayed in the bedroom the first week until my husband would be home."
Holloway said she's read Facebook posts from friends in other neighborhoods describing some people "went furniture shopping," and others reported having to guard their homes that were destroyed but still needed to recover belongings.
Others have posted to Chattanooga's tornado Facebook group claiming there have been hundreds of calls and arrests for looting.
But knowing the number of reports aren't as high eased her mind.
Exaggerated tales of looting following natural disasters isn't a new phenomenon.
Even when looting isn't witnessed, the belief that natural disasters are accompanied by an increase in criminal activity is "often attributed to the extraordinary security measures that have been taken rather than the fact that such behavior is inherently uncommon," according to disaster resource documents provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
"Sometimes what is thought to be looting may actually be the salvage of disaster victims' property by friends or relatives unknown to those observing this activity," the document states.
In Chattanooga, police have set up traffic control points and constant roving patrols throughout the most heavily affected areas. They ask drivers for identification before letting people into neighborhoods in order to verify that they have a legitimate reason to be there. So far, officers have encountered people giving pushback about being stopped on a number of occasions. Most of those were turned around and denied access, police spokeswoman Elisa Myzal said.
For the officers, "Everyone involved in the tornado effort, whether search and rescue or traffic posts or patrolling the area or even behind the scenes at the command post, feels the toll. That's true of every agency involved, not just CPD," spokesman Sgt. Jeremy Eames said.
"That said, our officers are resilient and see the needs that many of our citizens have right now," he said. "And as always, they are rising to the challenge of ensuring the safety of those affected by the storm as well as maintaining their current responsibilities."
Contact Rosana Hughes at rhughes@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327 with tips or story ideas. Follow her on Twitter @Hughes Rosana.