Despite a large scale evacuation affecting tens of thousands of residents across Garden Grove, Stanton and Anaheim, there have been no reports of looting after people fled their homes due to a chemical scare, officials said.
A malfunctioning chemical storage tank at manufacturer GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove has risen to dangerous levels as crews continued to try to head off a disastrous explosion or damaging spill, fire authorities said.
With residents away from their homes under mandatory evacuations, concerns have started to rise about potential looting. But Garden Grove police said it hasn’t been an issue so far.
“We have no reported issues with any break ins at this time,” Garden Grove Police Spokesman Sgt. Nick Jensen said. “Garden Grove PD has officers actively patrolling the evacuated areas of Garden Grove 24 hours a day to help protect our communities property.”
Looting has been a problem in the past during mass, prolonged evacuations. During the January 2025 wildfires that burned in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, officials made dozens of arrests for looting in the evacuated areas. The issue was so pronounced that officials eventually issued a 12-hour curfew in evacuation zones and the National Guard had to assist in patrolling communities.
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