I was disspaointed in hearing about the looting, but there is no food, water, phone service, cell service, public service and no way out. In 24 hours a thriving city has been reduced to Rwanda. I think I can look the other wa if a hungry family loots for food. Now those guys stealing TVs and Jewlry are another story. I am stunned by the devastation..
Law and order could be maintained if the police break into stores and distribute items in an orderly fashion, playing "Soup Nazi" if need be. Even if some people truly need certain items, they're no more likely to actually get the items they truly need in a free-for-all than they would be if looting/'finding'/etc. were effectively prohibited. Having police distribute items in semi-controlled fashion would be better than either alternative.