LEESVILLE, La. (AP) — There has been a rise in thefts of storm-recovery equipment in one Louisiana parish and fights at gas stations in another during the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, authorities said.
The fights broke out between customers at Vernon Parish fuel pumps, according to a statement posted Friday on Facebook by the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Vernon Parish Sheriff John Craft urged residents to only get the amount of gas they need, saying in the statement that “the citizens of this parish are better than this.” He also asked residents to be “courteous” to gas station employees, adding “fuel may be scarce for the foreseeable future due to logistical issues.”
It was not clear how many calls about these fights were made to the sheriff’s office, or if anyone was arrested.
The hurricane made landfall Thursday just south of Lake Charles near Cameron, Louisiana. At least 19 people have since died in Louisiana and Texas due to the storm.
In Beauregard Parish, authorities are advising residents to take precaution with their storm-recovery equipment, including generators and chainsaws, because of a rise in theft.
Beauregard Parish Chief Detective Sylvestor Denmond called to thefts “frustrating.” He told the American Press that residents should make note of the identifying numbers on their equipment.
Such identifying marks will allow authorities to easily identify stolen items, Denmond said.
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