Where Looters Will Strike First When SHTF – Preppgroup

When we think of natural disasters, the topic of looting is not far off. Looting does indeed occur in the aftermath of disasters, but the truth is that it is not nearly as widespread as we think.

That said, in the event of a total power outage, economic collapse, large-scale civil war, or nationwide disaster, the prospect of no help on the horizon will cause many people to turn to looting to obtain the supplies they need to survive.

Below is a list I’ve compiled of the places I think you’ll see looters strike if SHTF occurs.

Hardware stores and department stores

If the lights go out permanently, everyone will be looking for a generator to power their fridge and freezer. A store that sells generators of any size will be a target for looters.

Large department stores also face a lot of looting, because they are a collection point for many consumer goods and groceries, making them attractive targets.

Hardware stores are also being targeted, not just for generators but also for supplies and equipment that could be useful in securing homes.

Grocery stores

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us one thing, it is that many people do not have adequate supplies of basic foods such as rice and flour, as well as other products such as toilet paper.

The pandemic caused supply chain disruptions, which were further exacerbated by panic buying.

In the event of a SHTF situation, where the supply chain is permanently shut down, the same people who were panic buying will have to resort to raiding the local grocery store to feed their families.

Organised criminal gangs will also inevitably target these shops to sell their ill-gotten gains on the black market.

Hospitals/clinics/doctors’ practices/veterinary clinics/pharmacies

Ask yourself what you would do if a disaster happened and you or a family member needed medicine to survive. Would you steal it?

Millions of people need prescriptions every day; if the supply chain is cut off, they will have to find these medications in other ways. One of them may be to loot the needed medicines.

Another group you will see looting at these locations are drug addicts desperate for another fix of drugs.

People with injured family members at home may also decide it’s better to stock up on medical supplies than wait in a post-SHTF triage center.

Outdoor and sporting goods stores

Most people involved in the survival/prepping community have a wide selection of outdoor and camping gear, which can be invaluable in a SHTF scenario.

Those who haven’t prepared head to the local outdoor store to stock up on the necessary gear.

These stores also stock ammunition, firearms, and personnel who are at minimal risk of injury or death defending their employer’s inventory.

Private residences

It doesn’t take a large group of bad guys to effectively force their way into most private homes and plunder them. This is where operational security (OPSEC) is crucial to keep your home off the radar of the local criminal elements.

The problem with many preppers and survivalists is that they often spend way too much time talking about their preparations.

Many of us have heard the expression, “I’ll just come to you.” If too many people know about the extent of your preparations, you can expect that some of them will knock on your door and not take no for an answer.

Convenience stores

The corner store may not seem like a favorite target for looters, but the inventory they keep on their shelves is invaluable post-SHTF.

The real problem with looting these shops is that they are usually the only source of income for a family and therefore need to be well defended.

Often the families who run the local supermarket live directly above or next door and defend the store as if it were their own home.

Warehouses or distribution centers

There is an Amazon distribution center a few miles from my house. Every time I drive by it I think what a great target it would be. Yes, that pun was intended.

There are also many warehouses and other distribution centers full of useful food and other supplies, and security is so poor that it would be non-existent in a SHTF scenario.

I expect angry mobs will descend on these buildings if the power grid goes down and law and order is compromised.

Gas stations

Even if the power goes out, there are still ways to get fuel from the underground storage tanks at your local gas station.

I bet if a SHTF situation arises, there will be a lot of organized groups of looters looking to get their hands on this vital resource.

We’ve seen it time and time again that in the lead up to hurricanes the exodus of people sucks the tanks dry at every gas station in the area, but if the lights suddenly went out it would be a different story. There would be thousands of gallons of fuel just sitting there waiting for someone with a little ingenuity to get it out.

Gun shops

There is a saying I heard a long time ago that goes, “With one gun, you can get more.” While it may seem suicidal to loot a gun store, the reality is that the staff in these stores don’t stand a chance against a horde of already armed looters. People want to defend themselves, and looting your local gun store is one way they will do that.

During local disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, etc. there will always be some looting. Most of the time this type of looting is done by criminals who are primarily motivated by profit from the disaster.

When the disaster is on a national or global scale and no help is forthcoming, we can expect looting to be on a massive scale and to involve people who under normal circumstances would be law-abiding, good people.

Knowing where looters are likely to strike can help you avoid those areas and stay safe during a disaster.