In scenarios where public order has broken down, such as government collapse, national EMP strikes, natural disasters, rebellion, and others, looting frequently occurs.
Looting can start immediately, or it can take a while to gain traction. In either case, it is exploitative behavior in which the looters seek personal gain by taking what they want or need from others.
This exploitation can be aimed at survival needs but is often for monetary or personal gain. Here are some of the items looters will take first from your property.
Food and Water
Two of the most basic needs in human survival are food and water. Ordinary, law-abiding citizens will succumb to survival instincts when food and water supplies are compromised.
This type of looting is common in natural disasters, like the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, where grocery stores were thoroughly looted for food supplies.
Non-perishable food, especially survival or military rations, will be most desirable. Canned food, water jugs, sports bars, and high-calorie food will also be targeted.
Being such a primal necessity to live, nearly every home has food in it, and looters will not need to look for indicators that you have it. The assumption can easily be made that there is food on your property, and that is all the justification needed for hungry looters to come looking.
In case your food stockpile it compromised, you can learn here about the superweeds that saved large communities from starvation during the Great Depression. It could be a real lifesaver when there’s no other food around.
Survival Gear
Just as precious as food and water in survival situations, looters will seek gear made specifically for enduring harsh conditions. This can broadly be camping, fishing, hunting, and shelter-related gear. High-end sleeping bags, tents, boots, knives, water purification systems, rain gear, camouflage clothing, multi-tools, and similar items will be taken.
These not only have practical value but are usually easily transported and traded or sold. High-quality survival equipment is often lightweight, durable, compact, and feature-rich.
Unfortunately, all of these traits also make them desirable to looters who can only carry so much and want the highest value and portability for their efforts.
Medical Supplies and Drugs
Medical supplies will be looted to treat current injuries or ward off the threat of future injuries. Some drugs, like insulin and inhalers, are critical for the survival of some people, and they will search specifically for those drugs.
Other prescription drugs that are commonly used will be sought for their trade value and for personal use. While you can’t generally buy antibiotics over the counter, you can use this ingenious method to stockpile antibiotics without a prescription. Medical items like masks and sanitizers will be looted in a biological disaster scenario.
Firearms and Ammunition
Looting, self-defense, and offensive actions are much easier to achieve with the use of firearms. Looters may not have firearms to begin with and will seek them to make their lives and actions easier.
When civil unrest becomes violent, like the 1992 Los Angeles riots, gun stores will be targeted first and then homes.
Along with firearms are items commonly associated with weapons. These can be scopes, holsters, body armor, and tactical gear.
Precious Metals and Jewelry
All metals have at least some practical or monetary value, but the first ones looters will look for are gold, silver, and platinum. These metals are common in jewelry, which may also have diamonds or other gemstones.
Looters will seek these for their intrinsic value that is not tied to fiat currencies, making them valuable in times of high inflation or collapse of financial systems.
Even in less extreme scenarios, precious metals and jewelry are easy to carry in highly valuable quantities and very easy to sell on the street.
Fuel and Energy Sources
When the electric grid is down, gas stations, homes, and vehicles will no longer have boundless energy. Looters will seek solar panels, propane tanks, batteries, camping stoves, gasoline and diesel fuels, generators, power banks, and anything else to meet their needs.
Even alternators can be taken out of vehicles and rigged into manual generators. Immediate looting will be for fossil fuels to power vehicles and generators, the generators themselves, and batteries.
The presence of solar panels on your property might drive looters to become squatters so they can harvest energy over time.
When looters target fuel and energy sources, having a reliable backup is essential.
Vehicles
Mobility is highly valuable and is not limited to trucks and cars. Looters will seek any vehicle that helps them become more mobile, especially if it has street value for trade or sale.
Trucks, cars, trailers, bikes, scooters, campers, and boats will all be sought. Looters may not even want to keep the vehicle, but if it helps them get further down the road, they will take it and ditch it when it runs out of fuel.
SUVs, trucks, four-wheelers, and similar vehicles are extremely useful for their versatility and ability to drive off roads. In coastal areas, boats and other watercraft can be even more useful, especially if only a few roads access your area.
Tools and Hardware
Similar to precious metals and jewelry, tools can easily be sold on the street, though they are often much more cumbersome to carry.
Beyond their street value, tools are useful for crafting whatever it is the looters need. Power tools, and hand tools are all useful to anyone with craftsmanship skills.
Some tools, like crowbars, hammers, and bolt cutters, can be used to make looting easier by providing the means to breach doors and other barriers.
Electronics and Communications Devices
Though not useful in every situation, like an EMP strike, electronics are often sought by looters for their value, portability, and even just to improve their quality of life. Cell phones, radios, and satellite systems will be looted for communications potential.
Cell phones, tablets, TVs, gaming consoles, computers, and even washing machines can be stolen for sale on the street or to be brought home and used personally.
Drones and GPS devices can immediately be useful for looters in the pursuit of their next target and will surely be taken.
Looting is extremely common when social order breaks down, whether due to a natural disaster, war, crime wave, or any similar event. Being aware of what looters will seek is the first step in protecting yourself and your loved ones from having your supplies pillaged.
Anything portable, valuable, and immediately useful is at risk. Safeguarding these supplies by keeping them hidden from view and secured behind locked doors will help you avoid becoming of interest to looters.
via askaprepper
