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Looting

By , About.com Guide

Updated November 20, 2012

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Looting

Looting in Haiti after a devastating earthquake.

(c) Getty Images
Definition:

Stealing goods or valuables during a time of crisis.

The common belief is that looting follows any major disaster, natural or man made, when there is a breakdown in law enforcement. The truth is that looting is not very common and it is much more likely that "looters" take survival goods such as food and water.

Also Known As: sacking, plundering, stealing

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