Looters Hit Outer Boroughs

Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz has requested additional National Guard troops as looting spreads through the blacked-out areas of Coney Island, south Brooklyn, and Queens.

"Governor Cuomo also acted quickly by activating the National Guard prior to the storm, and I urge him to allocate as many troops as possible to Brooklyn—troops from New York or any other states that can spare them," said Mr Markowitz in a statement. "The devastation is so widespread and overwhelming that it’s in the best interest of all of our residents for a more significant National Guard presence to supplement the great work being done by our brave—but overwhelmed—first responders. In addition to flooding, power outages, lack of utilities, sanitation and water issues, and no transportation in neighborhoods such as Coney Island, Sea Gate, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, DUMBO, Red Hook and others, there have been unfortunate incidents of looting in some locations. All of our resources have been stretched to the limit, but in the name of public safety we need to send more National Guard personnel into Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Red Hook and any other locations the governor deems appropriate."

Britain's Daily Mail tabloid reports that some looters are brazenly tweeting evidence of their crimes using the hashtag "SandyLootCrew."  Among the stores hit are Rite Aid, liquor stores, and television rental outlets.  So far the only looting reported in Manhattan comes from the heavily damaged South Street Seaport, where police arrested people who had waded through neck-deep water to steal expensive headphones from Brookstone.