Posted on 02/21/2017 4:52:05 PM PST by nickcarraway
Authorities are investigating a series of looting incidents in neighborhoods evacuated this week during the Oroville Dam crisis, with residents reporting the thefts of cash and credit cards. One Vietnam veteran had nearly two dozen military medals stolen from his Yuba City home.
At least six people have been detained so far in various incidents, and authorities say they still are investigating some reports.
Among the victims was Mike Pomeroy, 69, a Vietnam veteran who left his Yuba City home Sunday with his wife, Gaylene, after the evacuation was ordered, then returned to find he had lost nearly two dozen medals to thieves, including a Purple Heart.
“They were in a briefcase in the very depths of the closet,” said Gaylene Pomeroy, 64. “They were things that he had not opened in any many years. They were tucked away. He wanted to forget about them because he has PTSD.”
The medals’ theft “has put him in a tailspin, to put it mildly,” she added.
The couple fled their home Sunday along with 188,000 other residents of Sutter, Yuba and Butte counties when officials feared the dam’s emergency spillway might fail, sending a wall of water crashing over the Highway 70 corridor.
Looters apparently swept in after the communities were evacuated, giving them easy access to homes. Law enforcement officials are not classifying what followed as a wave of looting, because they define looting as stealing large numbers of goods from a single place, such as a store. But a Yuba County sheriff’s official said there was a noticeable uptick in burglaries during the day-and-a-half-long evacuation period, and Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said there were some cases being labeled as looting incidents.
Those who were given moments to leave their homes often left behind credit cards,
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
It seemed obvious that abandoned homes would be targeted by looters. Did the police also evacuate?
This type of scum needs to be terminated.
I saw he got them back already
Great question. Air National Guard helos should have been on patrol with live weapons
update:
Medals recovered.
http://taskandpurpose.com/police-recover-purple-heart-stolen-vet-oroville-dam-emergency/
24 medals seem like a lot.
My brother (in Ohio) had new windows installed in his home several years ago. After they left, he discovered his medal of honor was missing from where he kept it upstairs at that home. He remains just sick about it as he cannot prove they took it, but it was there before the window work was done. It meant a lot to him, he was a medic in VietNam.
Is there a story here on FR about the recovery?
It’s terrible that someone would do that. It’s not like it has a high worth to anyone but your brother.
Never mind; my question is answered in a post on this thread.
That is very sad. I hope the pawn shops in his area have a policy of contacting the police when such an item is presented.
I know. He has PTSD and it troubles him he did not secure it before the workers came to his home. He never thought anyone would take that from him. My brother participates in all kinds of veterans events. Goes to show that when we have people in our homes doing things, we cannot automatically trust their intentions upon us (sad to say).
many military uniform shops
also carry, insignia, ribbons, medals,
and that kind of thing.
Why do people put up with this crap?
Uncle Sam will replace them for free. All you need is your DD214 to apply for replacement medals. My dad got a replacement set of his WWII and Korean War medals that way.
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