Looting taking a toll in tornado damaged Tuscaloosa

(CBS/WKRG/AP) TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Looting has become a serious problem in Tuscaloosa's storm-damaged communities.

According to CBS affiliate WKRG, police and National Guard troops are closely patrolling the streets, but say they can't keep every looter away from homes and businesses.

Several looting arrests have already been made and Attorney General Luther Strange said the cases will be taken seriously.

"I was just talking to an officer here in this area where we are, and they caught a guy stealing some goods out of a person's house 10 minutes ago in this location," Strange said Sunday. "That person has been arrested and we have made it clear that we are going to make prosecuting looters a high priority, hopefully discouraging people from coming to this area, and that's one of our missions."

Police say people are stealing anything they can get their hands on from homes and businesses.

The station reports that an 8 p.m. curfew is in effect in the city's storm damaged communities.