Crimes in New York Related to Hurricane Sandy

January 09, 2013 (Press-News.org) Crimes in New York related to Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy will go down in history as a devastating event in this country. Although it has been several weeks since this tragedy, families all around the U.S. can still feel its effects. Homes and businesses are no longer standing, and many families have lost things they can never replace. Times like this can unify a country and can bring out the best in people who take the time to volunteer and help people they do not even know. But events like this can also bring out the worst in people.

Accusations of looting during a disaster

Looters can be big contributors to crime during tragedies such as Hurricane Sandy. As soon as the water from the storm went down, people were allegedly in the streets robbing stores, businesses and homes. One example comes from a pharmacy that had been broken into in Coney Island. Thieves rifled through more than 10,000 pharmaceuticals and made away with many prescription items. Events like this make it hard for business owners to continue. Not only do they have to deal with the destruction from the actual storm, but they also lose a lot of their salvageable products because of the robberies.

These crimes are not uncommon after natural disasters. Hurricane Irene and Katrina also resulted in looting and violent attacks in their respective areas. Official numbers of crimes are not out yet, but there has been an increase of police presence in many areas where these crimes are rumored to be occurring. Law enforcement is warning people not to go out at night because of the potential violent crimes and robberies that could take place.

Neighborhoods that were once safe are suddenly becoming more dangerous because of the increase in crime rates. Because of the lack of power in many areas, streets are dark and can provide easy spots for crime to occur. The lack of power also makes it more difficult for police to accurately identify alleged criminals, which can lead to improper arrests.

How a criminal defense attorney can help

The legal system looks at defendants as innocent until proven guilty. Hurricane Sandy brought about great devastation, panic and chaos. It is not uncommon for accusations to occur for crimes people did not commit, especially when such chaos surrounds them.

If you have been accused of a crime, seek out an experienced criminal defense attorney. If you are fighting an accusation for a crime you did not commit related to Hurricane Sandy, contact a New York criminal defense attorney to explore legal options.

Article provided by Adler & Karliner
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