Looters raid Family Dollar in Wilmington, NC after Florence
WILMINGTON, NC (FOX 46 WJZY) - As if the hurricane wasn't bad enough, looters have already begun to target businesses left alone during Hurricane Florence's assault on the Carolina coast.
Officers were called to the Family Dollar on 1318 Street Greenfield Street in downtown Wilmington where windows had been busted in. They tell FOX 46 that all of the damage to the store wasn't storm damage, it was "people damage."
Inside the store, broken glass littered the floor, shelves were damaged, and what little items remained were left scattered.
LINK: Venomous snakes could be lurking in Florence floodwater
Authorities told FOX 46 they did have video evidence that was being reviewed in order to identify those responsible of taking advantage of a terrible situation.
Wilmington police say charges will be filed against the looters.
Looting was also reported at the Dollar General on 5th and Dawson Streets. Wilmington police say they arrested five people in connection with that crime.
Charges are pending.
Thousands of people living near North Carolina's rising rivers were ordered evacuated Saturday as hurricane-turned-tropical storm Florence practically parked itself over land and poured on the rain Saturday, raising fears that the state could be in for the most destructive flooding in its history.
LINK: Local shelters open for Tropical Storm Florence
Officials say three more people have died in North Carolina as a result of Florence, bringing death toll to 11, 10 in North Carolina and one in South Carolina.