It didn't take long: Just hours after Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast, reports of looting and thievery began making the rounds.
The activity was especially bad in the evacuated areas of the Rockaways and Coney Island, where the New York Post reported police arrested more than a dozen looters.
And in New Jersey, more than two dozen homeowners in hard-hit Pleasantville have reported attempted lootings of what's left of their homes, according to NBC10 TV in Philadelphia.
Looters are using technology and cunning to do the job. According to some reports, looters coordinated their plans via Twitter even before the storm struck and bragged via the platform after landing loot. Others posed as utility workers to gain entry into victims' homes.
Because President Barack Obama declared the stricken region a federal disaster area, curfews are in effect in many areas, and National Guard troops have been deployed to patrol. This helped clamp down on incidents of looting since midweek.
Given that many Sandy-stricken areas are still without power, how can property owners—whether business or homeowners—protect themselves against crime?
Read on to learn four ways owners can protect their properties before and after a disaster.
Police officers survey the damage to a Citibank branch amid concern of looting in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, on Mermaid Avenue in the Coney Island section of the Brooklyn borough of New York. Sandy, the storm that made landfall Monday, caused multiple fatalities, halted mass transit and cut power to more than 6 million homes and businesses. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Before the Disaster
The best cure is the proverbial ounce of prevention. Because residents had warning that Sandy was on the way, property owners had ample opportunity to board up before the storm struck. "A thief will go through access that's easier," said Donnalynn Darling, partner with Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, a law firm in Garden City, Long Island. "A thief won't take a screw gun and unscrew plywood. If you prepared ahead of time, it's probably secure."
Whether you're a business or a homeowner, the most critical element is the ability to document a loss, whether it's from damage or theft, said Bill Stickler, director, SOS Contents, a division of Enservio.
After receiving word of a looming disaster, gather proofs of purchase and receipts to help the adjuster confirm the accuracy of the quantity and value of what's in the business or home.
"For a commercial loss, the insurance coverage provided will pay for the cost of the merchandise rather than the retail cost, so obtaining accurate records of what they owner purchased will go a long way in validating the cost," Stickler said. Digitally photograph and record items in the store as an overview of what's there to support an insurance claim.
Even if there is no insurance coverage for some exposures, you'll still need documentation to support a casualty loss from a tax perspective, Stickler said. Often the insurance industry uses forensic accountants to conduct an analysis of inventory and its cost at the time of loss. "If that's not up to date, they might not be able to estimate it at all," he said.
A police officer watches as a passerby looks into a store through a damaged security grate, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, on Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island, N.Y. Sandy, the storm that made landfall Monday, caused multiple fatalities, halted mass transit and cut power to more than 6 million homes and businesses.(AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
