looter
UK: ˈluːtə | US: ˈluːtər
n. a person who steals goods, typically during a war, riot, or other violent disturbance.
The word "looter" derives from the Hindi word "lūṭ," meaning "plunder" or "spoils," which entered English during the British colonial period in India. The suffix "-er" is an agentive suffix in English, indicating a person who performs the action (in this case, stealing). The term originally referred to those who plundered during military conflicts but has since broadened to include theft during civil unrest or disasters.
The police arrested several looters after the riot.
During the chaos, looters broke into stores and stole electronics.
The museum was vandalized by looters who took priceless artifacts.
Authorities warned that looters would face severe penalties.
After the hurricane, some people became looters, taking advantage of the disaster.