Looters Ransack Upstate New York Businesses Amid Deadly Blizzard Conditions

Looters vandalized and damaged businesses in upstate New York over the weekend. Local authorities were prevented from conducting regular patrols due to dangerously low temperatures and extreme winter weather.

According to reports, New York State Police responded to social media claims that businesses were attacked and merchandise stolen in Buffalo. At least 27 of these incidents occurred. reported dead After a huge snowstorm, New York was the only city that saw it.

Local media reported that the stores included all Wegmans, Tops locations in Erie County. These stores were closed Friday due to the storm. “once in a generation” storm.

Monday’s report by the Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown stated that looters were taking advantage of unsupervised stores. “the lowest of the low.”

“I don’t know how these people can even live with themselves, how they can look at themselves in the mirror,” Mayor Brown stated.

Brown stated that those who looted while others were killed in the severe winter storm were also included. “absolutely reprehensible.”

“And from some of the pictures that we’ve seen on social media of these looters, they’re not looting foods and medicines, they’re just looting items that they want,” The mayor stated. “So these aren’t even people in distress — these are people who are taking advantage of a national disaster and the suffering of many in our community to take what they want.”

Two civilians spoke with a local NBC affiliate About the looting.

“It’s not about a need,” According to one source “It was a storm for one day — it’s not about a need.”

“Exactly,” According to the other source. “They took TV sets.

New York State Police Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli told local media authorities were dispatched to two confirmed reports of looting incidents.

“Those are still under investigation as we speak,” Nigrelli claimed. “Those are isolated incidents, and it’s not reflective of the great community of Western New York, and I’m sure that they’ll be limited to those two incidents — or at least that’s our hope.”

Local media reported that Joseph Gramaglia, City Police Commissioner, said authorities had made an arrest. “few” Arrests for looting during the weekend

“We’ve been able to — throughout the storm — transition our patrol officers to get back [to] their patrol efforts while we have our search and rescue recovery teams that are going out and doing the very difficult work of recovering bodies,” Gramaglia stated, according to The New York Post.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statement about price gouging as another side effect of this once-in-a century winter storm. Local media reported it.

“Price gouging is illegal, “Hochul said. “We have the attorney general’s office and our state is prepared to investigate any complaints of price gouging. Those who engage in this disgusting practice at a time when people in our community are hurting, when they’re trying so hard to get basic necessities, there’s a scarcity because stores have been closed since Friday, then shame on them. And they’re going to meet the law in a way they probably didn’t encounter. We’re going to be going after them.”

“The Department of Financial Services is engaging the insurance industry,” Hochul added “making sure we have claims adjusters on the ground to help people who’ve had damage. Whether it’s the weight of snow on their roofs, whether it’s water damage … we want to make sure people know we’ll get help to them as soon as possible.”

New York officials imposed travel bans in Buffalo, New York and the surrounding areas. They asked drivers to avoid the roads so that emergency services can have a clear route.

Hochul added that the law is inherently violated by anyone who is alone. “will be ticketed,” While members of the National Guard will stop drivers in areas that have bans,