ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsState Attorney General and Jefferson Co. cracks down on looters

Jefferson County deputies say since the storms struck they've had on average one or two looters every day. One of the key ways they're catching them is a watch tower stationed along Center Point Parkway - one of the most damaged communities.

"We're pretty much the eye in the sky right now," Deputy Michael Jackson, Jefferson County said.

Deputies are using a lift to monitor businesses along Center Point Parkway. It goes up 35 feet in the air and has three cameras watching every angle. 

"Especially at night, the guys can't see up here, they can switch over to the infrared and even in the darkest spots up here they can see everything that is going on," Deputy Jeff Mulkin said.

"We're looking for trespassers, people looking for scrap metal, anything they can make a profit on," Deputy Jackson said.

Not only are they patrolling from up high, they're combing the ground.

"These people have been victimized," Sgt. Rusty Starnes, Jefferson County said. "They didn't ask for this. Their houses are destroyed. It does make me feel good to put somebody in jail for coming out here and trying to take advantage of them."

For Sergeant Rusty Starnes, this isn't just a day to day routine.

"It's tough to see your hometown torn up," he said.

January 23rd he watched his hometown crumble under the storm.

"We're utilizing people from other agencies within our department to work overtime, working mostly on a voluntary basis," Sgt. Starnes said.

Right now, looters can be charged with "theft of lost property" or with trespassing. But Attorney General Luther Strange is aiming to give them not just a misdemeanor, but a felony.

"I think it's going to decrease the numbers substantially," Sgt. Starnes said.

"We can see pretty much everything," Deputy Jackson told us.  "If they think they're going to come out here and get away with it, they can think again because we're watching."

This bill would make looting a crime that can send a violator to prison for up to ten years. Attorney General Strange says the law would only be enforced if the Governor declared a state of emergency.