Moore Tornado Looters Arrested; Came From as Far as New York and Virginia

Tornado looters arrested in Oklahoma. Tornado looters came to Oklahoma from as far away as Virginia and New York to strip houses and search for valuables.

Tornado looters preyed on the weather-ravaged area. Three weeks ago the deadly monster tornado ripped through the city of Moore leaving more than 20 people dead. Entire communities were wiped out
in the disaster area.

Now that the search for potential survivors or dead bodies is over, law enforcement officials are searching for tornado looters who have been picking over the devastated area to find any valuables that have been left behind.

A law enforcement official said looters were “Arrested with a truck full of copper wire, scrap metal and other items from homes destroyed by the May 20 tornado in Moore, three men told police they came hundreds of miles — all the way from Virginia — for the sole purpose of looting in the disaster area.”

One of the tornado looters was arrested in after police saw him carrying a large piece of utility wire. The Harrisonburg, Virginia, resident told the police that he owned a recycling company. He came to Moore from Virginia to get steel and copper, which can fetch a handsome price.

An Associated Press report said “Authorities say looters have come from as far away as New York and Virginia to steal from victims of last month's tornado in Moore, Okla.”

The tornado looters were not just men or residents from other states. A woman from Moore was found using children to sort through storm debris. She loaded up a washer and a dryer and other items. One of the looters confessed to being in the United States illegally. He loaded his pickup truck with “metal, copper wires, tool boxes” and any other items he could fit.

Since the May 20 tornado Moore residents reported numerous items stolen. Some have claimed high-dollar losses. Among the reported items were a $50,000 Patek Philippe wristwatch, a $13,000 Rolex watch, a $2,000 Mont Blanc fountain pen, a jewelry box containing $5,000 in miscellaneous items, a $1,300 hunting camera, a $700 tiller, and a $50,000 watch.