Sorry to burst your bubble but...
Looters Further Victimize Flood Victims
Some Can't Tell Difference Between Looters, Cleanup Volunteers
Reported by Jeremy Finley
POSTED: 3:52 pm CDT May 7, 2010
UPDATED: 5:45 pm CDT May 7, 2010
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As if losing everything to floodwaters wasn't bad enough, there's more trouble for storm victims: looters.
"If I hadn't turned around, that stuff would be gone in a blink of an eye," said flood victim Todd Felts.
He was taking a break from the cleanup when, he said, he saw two men take his lawnmower and his dad's toolbox.
"You got people coming down here stealing our stuff," Felts said. "What's the world coming to?"
Jairo Guzman, Dermes Acosta and Eliazar Garcia were arrested and charged with the theft.
Police also arrested Ronald Anderson and Joe Bolling, both 44, and accused them of stealing appliances right off of people's properties. Anderson has an outstanding warrant for theft and 29 prior arrests, including burglary.
"There's so much good that's going on out here, it far outweighs it, but it's pretty bad," said Regina Smith, who witnessed arrests.
"If you come here to River Plantation, we're ready. We're waiting for you," said Metro police Lt. Matt Pylkas. "You're going to be arrested."
But police and flood victims said they realize it's difficult to tell the looters from people just wanting to help clean up.
"You can't tell who is working or who is legit or who is not legit," said Felts. "It's a scary thing because you don't know."
Both Bolling and Anderson have been charged with felony theft.
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