Based on the seemingly wall to wall coverage of looting during the last few days, I wondered whether anything similar happened during 9/11. I decided to do a little research.
There apparently was looting during the 9/11 aftermath, but it was certainly not reported with any fervor. One key reason is obviously that it was unknown at the time and cameras were not rolling. At this point, this is simply food for thought.
A quick scan also showed looting occured during many previous Hurricanes as well. Feel free to discuss the reasons and rationale for the difference in coverage here in the comments section.
From Time:
6
Looting arrests in New York City on Sept. 11; by Oct. 11, 54 more had been made
From NBC News Channel 4
But the New York Police Department says from Sept. 11 to Dec. 11, 2000 -- a year before the attacks -- the downtown area around the World Trade center had just four burglaries reported.
In the same period 2001, in what suddenly became the ground zero zone: 76 burglaries, making that an increase of 1,900 percent in an area where the public was prohibited.
...
The New York Police and Fire Departments refuse to comment on the looting statistics.
"The NYPD did yeoman's work after 9/11," said Mr. Bloomberg. "If you're not happy with what they did, I don't know what would make you happy. Could they be at all places at all times? Of course not."
And NBC Nightly News apparently believes looting was not limited to civilians
After 9/11, 400 FBI agents from around the country were dispatched to New York to look for evidence in the ruins of the World Trade Center. But now a federal investigation reveals that, while they sifted through piles of rubble, many of those same FBI agents removed items to use as souvenirs or gifts for bosses, friends and colleagues.
NBC News Senior Investigative Correspondent Lisa Myers has learned that at least 13 FBI agents took items including American flags that once flew over the World Trade Center, marble chunks of buildings from the towers, patches from World Trade Center security-guard uniforms, signs and keys marked "World Trade Center," a glass Tiffany globe that originally cost $350 and somehow survived the collapse.
And an even more controversial accusation
Author William Langewiesche says something secret and sorry was mixed in with the rescue, sadness and tumult of the attack on America on Sept. 11, 2001.
"The looting was shadowy, widespread..." he writes in "American Ground," referring to the less heroic actions of some firefighters, police, and later, cleanup workers.
Peter Gorman, president of the Fire Officer's Union, has organized firefighter rallies against the accusations at readings and book signings by Langewiesche.
"For him to insinuate that a firefighter got off the truck that morning and told his captain, 'I'll be right with you Cap, let me go down and grab a couple pair of jeans and I'll be right back inside,' is disgusting," said Gorman.
Again, this is simply food for thought, I will allow you to do the cooking.