Police have arrested 14 people for looting in Houston since Sunday and if convicted, they can expect to pay a heavy price for their actions, local law enforcement officials said.
A Texas law will provide “heftier penalties,” a statement from Harris County District Attorney Kim K. Ogg read.
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“People displaced or harmed in this storm are not going to be easy prey,” Ogg said. “Anyone who tries to take advantage of this storm to break into homes or businesses should know they are going to feel the full weight of the law.
“Offenders will be processed around the clock without delay.”
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said Tuesday that police had arrested armed robbers as well.
He also said he’ll lobby judges and prosecutors to secure the most severe punishment Texas law allows.
Houston has been hit by a record amount of rain since Hurricane Harvey first made landfall on Friday.
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Harvey has caused widespread flooding as 15 people have died while more than 17,000 people have been forced to find refuge in shelters.
A weather station southeast of Houston reported 49.32 inches of rain as of Tuesday morning.
There have been quite a few unverified reports of looting in the United States’ fourth-largest city on social media over the past 48 hours.