your sources?
"With many roads becoming impassable, the City of Buffalo police were almost immobile by Friday evening.[55] Through radio and television, citizens were asked to loan snowmobiles and four-wheel drive vehicles to the Buffalo police;[55] police used them[56] to answer calls. Looting broke out and items stolen included radios and firefighters' clothing from fire trucks,[57] as well as more than $1,500 in medical supplies from a stuck ambulance.[58] Cigarettes, liquor, beer, coffee, meat and refrigerators were stolen from abandoned semi-trailer trucks.[59] There was also looting from factories, stores (including two jewelry stores and a furniture/appliance store) and homes.[59] Nearly 100 people were arrested for looting.[15]"
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_of_1977