DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WPTV) — Two men were arrested Monday after Volusia County deputies say they tried to steal sandbags from a construction site during a state of emergency.
Volusia Sheriff's Office said the two men, 43-year-old Thaylon A. Lewis and 45-year-old Joseph Colombo Jr., were caught loading sandbags from a road construction site in Daytona Beach just before 5 p.m. Monday.
A VCSO sergeant was driving southbound on Tomoka Farms Rd. when he spotted one of the men loading the bags and the other appearing as a lookout, the department said on Facebook.
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Lewis and Colombo were arrested at the scene and charged with theft during a declared state of emergency. Colombo was also charged with an injuction violation for possessing a firearm, VCSO added.
VCSO says they are the first to be arrested for looting during the current state of emergency due to Hurricane Dorian.
Volusia County workers distributed supplies for more than 100,000 free sandbags in recent days to help residents prepare for Hurricane Dorian.