§62.5. Looting

            A. Looting is the intentional entry by a person without authorization of any of the following when normal security of property is not present by virtue of a hurricane, flood, fire, act of God, or force majeure of any kind, or by virtue of a riot, mob, or other human agency, and the person obtains, exerts control over, damages, or removes the property of another without authorization:

            (1) Any dwelling or other structure belonging to another and used in whole or in part as a home or place of abode by a person.

            (2) Any structure belonging to another and used in whole or in part as a place of business.

            (3) Any vehicle, watercraft, building, plant, establishment, or other structure, movable or immovable.

            B. Whoever commits the crime of looting shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned at hard labor for not more than fifteen years, or both.

            C. Whoever commits the crime of looting during the existence of a state of emergency, which has been declared pursuant to law by the governor or the chief executive officer of any parish, may be fined not less than five thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars and shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than three years nor more than fifteen years without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.

            Acts 1993, No. 667, §1; Acts 2005, No. 208, §1; Acts 2006, No. 165, §1; Acts 2019, No. 285, §1, eff. July 1, 2019.