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Looters Spotted As Tornado Cleanup Continues In Indiana

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Their homes already ravaged by last week's tornadoes, some residents in Kokomo, Indiana, have been victimized again, as looters have been seen sifting through the debris on private property, and filling up trucks.

"We kind of hated to leave our homes, even if we couldn't stay, because we knew what would happen," Beth Langston told CBS 4 Indianapolis. "We just know people would think, 'Hey, it's a good opportunity. Let's try it.' They don't care."

Especially galling for her was people going out in broad daylight to search through the wreckage of Kokomo residents' homes.

Another neighbor said it's "pathetic." He and others have been staying in hotels because their homes were so badly damaged, so they can't keep a close eye on the valuables they had to leave behind, and are relying on police and neighbors to watch out for them.

Police said they have stopped several people who call themselves "junkers," but authorities consider them looters.

"If you don't belong in these neighborhoods, we're going to find out who you are, and only those people that are residents of the neighborhood are going to be allowed to go back in," Kokomo Police Maj. Brian Seldon said.

Police said increased patrols will continue throughout the cleanup effort.

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