The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) recently shared the names of almost a dozen people they say tried to break in while in an evacuation zone for the Palisades Fire in Santa Monica. Police say none of them live in the town.
Six of the ten suspects were found to have “burglary tools,” according to the police. All of them came from out of town to help with the disaster.
Police told Fox News that they have caught 39 people in evacuation zones since the Palisades Fire began.
People who weren’t charged with attempted theft were arrested for breaking curfew, having drugs, having warrants out for their arrest, violating parole or probation, and other offenses.
Police say that one of the burglary suspects, 29-year-old Joshua Kaliel Love, ran away from them but was found with a knife, a tool for breaking windows, a mask, gloves, and drugs. When he was caught, he was on probation.
Officials say that none of the 39 people who were taken are from Santa Monica.
Dominic Pachecomanga, 18, and Miguel Angel Dorantes, 22, were also suspected of burglary. They were driving in a van without ID and had gloves, burglary tools, dark clothes, ski masks, and big tote bags with them, police said.
Police say that Pachecomanga and Dorantes had the Watch Duty app open on their phones. This app keeps track of fire and escape zones.
The department says that Gabriel Isaih Stokes, 27, was stopped because the car he was driving in Santa Monica was marked as stolen by a plate reader. Police say he was caught with a stolen California ID, other fake IDs, tools for breaking into homes, a black hat, a ski mask, and a lot of bags.
Officials say Stokes has been charged with burglary, robbery, and grand theft in the past.
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