Maui residents report rise in crime amidst fire tragedy

Residents of Maui are speaking out about a major jump in crime after the recent tragic fires according to media reports that reveal islanders in Lahaina are facing looters and robbers. 

The story of the devastating fires on the Hawaiian island of Maui is getting even more upsetting with news islanders are now facing a wave of crime in the wake of the fires. 

Local business owner Matt Robb told Business Insider: “There's some police presence. There's some small military presence, but at night people are being robbed at gunpoint." 

"I mean, they're going through houses — and then by day, it's hunky-dory. So where is the support? I don't think our government and our leaders, at this point, know how to handle this or what to do,” Robb continued. 

Concerns about rising crime were addressed by Maui Police Chief John Pelletier at a recent press conference according to Newsweek, which noted Pelletier explained that the police were aware of the issues on the island. 

Moreover, Pelletier added that the problems were being discussed with patrol officers in the areas affected but also said that the police had yet to receive any report of looting.

"We have officers responding to where calls could've been," Pelletier said. "Not one victim was standing by and no report has been made.” 

“Could there have been cases like this and they've been reported properly, yes but as of now, we didn't get those calls,” Pelletier added. 

If the reports prove true, it would be a devastating addition to an already tragic story that has seen a community ripped apart by disaster. At present the death toll from the fires has risen to 99 killed according to CNN. 

The news organization added that only 25% of the burned had been searched, which means the death toll will likely get much higher as rescue workers and clean-up crews continue to scour the remains of the affected areas. 

“Nothing can prepare you for what I saw during my time here, and nothing can prepare them for the emotional toll of the impact that this severe event has taken on them,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told reporters of August 14th.