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Fire officials battling the CZU Complex blazes in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties were stunned this weekend when the department vehicle of one of their ground commanders was broken into while he directed his crew and a thief or thieves made off with his wallet and drained his bank account.
“It’s unfortunate and sickening,” Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Brunton said during a briefing early Sunday morning. “That’s the extent that these people have gone.”
Officials also warned residents that some person had already set up an online fundraising page purporting to be for the commander and his family, but that page was also unauthorized, and people were urged not to give to it.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart didn’t mince words in an afternoon news conference.
“I can’t imagine a bigger lowlife, breaking into somebody helping to protect this community, breaking into his car and taking his wallet and then charging up a bunch of credit card charges and taking money out of his bank account,” Hart said. “To me, it’s just mindboggling that somebody would have the audacity to do something like that.”
Hart said his deputies had received other reports of possible looting and theft in fire-affected areas. At least eight cases have resulted in citations or arrests, he added.
Hart said his office was investigating and that he was “confident” authorities would track down the thief.
District Attorney Jeff Rosell, who joined the sheriff at the briefing, vowed to bring anyone involved to justice.
“There are those that come and try to victimize those that are already victimized,” Rosell said. “I am here to tell you and guarantee you the District Attorney’s office is going to put the full weight of its authority and power behind the prosecution of those people.
“If you come to this county, if you come to these victimized communities and you try to take advantage of them and you are caught, we are going to prosecute you to the full extent of the law.”
Rosell also said his office had received reports of some local businesses inflating prices during the crisis.
“I’ve heard of various hotels and things that are trying to take advantage of people,” Rosell said. “I promise you if we find out that, we’re coming after you, too.”
Hart said his office and surrounding law-enforcement departments have beefed up patrols in the area, warning that anyone spotted cruising evacuated areas can expect to face questions from law enforcement.
“We have a bunch of police up there and all throughout this evacuated area,” Hart added. “The order is if it’s not police or fire, you’re going to stop that car and if they’re not tied to that area they’re going to go to jail.”
