Woman wearing ‘Palisades Strong’ shirt arrested for looting burned-down home

A woman wearing a t-shirt in support of Palisades Fire victims was arrested Friday on suspicion of looting the destroyed homes of one of those same victims.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a looting report came in at about 1 p.m. Friday at a burned-down home in the Pacific Palisades, but upon arrival, officers were unable to find a suspect but the victim was able to provide a detailed description of a woman and her vehicle.

The investigation traced the registration of that vehicle to a home in Valencia. Officers responded to the home and made contact with a woman who was in possession of antique items that were stolen from the destroyed home.

That woman, identified as Karen Mastey, was arrested on suspicion of Grand Theft. Photos released by the CHP showed Mastey, with her face blurred, wearing a shirt that says “Palisades Strong.”

“I am incredibly proud of the swift action taken by our officers to protect the public and prevent further harm,” said CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. “Their commitment to serving and assisting those in need during this challenging period reflects the highest standards of the CHP.”

It wasn’t immediately clear if Mastey would face charges for the offense, but state lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would make penalties harsher for looters during a time of emergency. If passed, the bill would allow prosecutors to seek felony charges for theft occuring at fire-damaged or evacuated homes.