Chileans return looted goods in city smashed by earthquake

Concepcion,Chile - Some residents of the south-central city that was devastated by a massive earthquake began returning looted goods from stores this weekend, military officials said. The repentant looters were apparently fearful of being caught in a series of house searches begun by soldiers and police, according to the senior army officer in the Bio Bio region.

"We are going after the looters in their respective homes, and they must be worried," General Guillermo Ramirez told Radio Cooperativa. "They are voluntarily returning various kinds of stolen goods."

Authorities said many people took advantage of the chaos that followed the 8.8-magnitude earthquake of February 27, and burst into shops to loot items ranging from foodstuffs to washing machines.

Thus far, the returned goods amounted to 20 truckloads, valued at nearly 400,000 dollars.

"I think this situation will continue for awhile and more stolen goods will trickle back, in the measure that neighbors gain the courage to give information and as the law is applied rigorously," Ramirez said.

He said the returns were an indication that public order was returning to the urban epicenter of the powerful earthquake.

Authorities also decided to shorten the curfew, imposed a week earlier to halt the looting, from 18 hours to 14 hours.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/312843,chileans-return-looted-goods-in-city-smashed-by-earthquake.html.