Crimes: looting.

Assembly Members Gabriel, Irwin, and Pacheco propose comprehensive changes to California's looting laws, redefining criminal penalties for offenses committed in evacuation zones during emergencies. The legislation expands the scope of looting to include first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary, grand theft, trespass, and vehicle theft when committed in areas under evacuation orders or warnings.

The bill establishes an "evacuation zone" classification that encompasses both mandatory evacuation areas and those under evacuation warnings, including residential properties undergoing post-disaster reconstruction for up to four years after an evacuation order. Within these zones, the legislation sets specific penalties: first-degree burglary carries a state prison term of two, four, or seven years, while second-degree burglary and grand theft result in county jail terms or state imprisonment. The measure also addresses theft from unlocked vehicles in evacuation zones with penalties of up to one year in county jail.

For probation cases, the bill institutes mandatory minimum jail terms - 180 days for most looting offenses and 90 days for petty theft - though courts retain discretion to modify these terms when justice requires. Additional provisions mandate community service requirements ranging from 80 to 240 hours based on offense severity. The legislation explicitly states that disaster damage to structures cannot serve as a defense against conviction, while maintaining exemptions for certain consensual entries into commercial buildings.