Assemblyman Josh Hoover, a resident of Folsom, has introduced legislation to impose harsher penalties on individuals who exploit victims during emergencies. On Thursday, Hoover announced Assembly Bill 271, which aims to protect victims of wildfires and other disasters from additional hardship by increasing penalties for looting during declared states of emergency.
“Criminals continue to prey on victims of wildfires in Los Angeles and across the state, callously stealing from those driven from their homes and experiencing unimaginable heartache,” Hoover said. “Clearly, our penalties are not sufficient to deter those willing to exploit vulnerable individuals during disasters. We must do more to protect victims and send a strong message that these crimes will not be tolerated.”
The proposed legislation would allow felony charges for individuals committing burglary or grand theft in areas under a state or local emergency or evacuation orders. It also includes a two-year sentence enhancement for offenders who impersonate government employees, such as firefighters or peace officers, a tactic some criminals use to gain access to homes.
Under existing California law, looting is defined as burglary or grand theft during a state of emergency or local emergency and is punishable as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the crime’s severity. Petty theft under similar conditions is treated as a misdemeanor with a mandatory 90-day jail sentence. Impersonating a peace officer, firefighter, or government employee is currently a misdemeanor.
AB 271 seeks to increase the penalties for looting, making second-degree burglary or grand theft in emergency zones a felony. Additionally, petty theft during emergencies would be reclassified as looting and punishable by up to one year in jail or as a felony. The bill would also impose enhanced penalties for individuals impersonating emergency personnel while committing these crimes.
As a member of the California State Assembly, Hoover represents District 7, which includes Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and surrounding unincorporated communities such as Carmichael, Fair Oaks, and Orangevale.
The legislation underscores Hoover’s commitment to protecting disaster victims and ensuring justice for those who exploit vulnerable individuals during emergencies.
