FRENCH SETTLEMENT - Officials in Livingston Parish say they are stepping up patrols after reports emerged that looters have begun to pick through the debris left by recent historic floods.

French Settlement Mayor Toni Guitrau told WWL-TV that she’s been working non-stop to make sure her residents get the food, water, clothing and supplies they need, but she remains concerned about one other thing.

"It’s everywhere and it’s spreading out this way,” Guitrau said, referring to the rising number of looting reports. “I just got a report today of someone's lawn mower being stolen and that definitely wasn't sitting out at the road. They don't understand that what they’re doing could be affecting someone's insurance claims,"

The mayor explains that, in some cases, people need the items destroyed by the water to remain outside of their homes for insurance purposes. In other cases, for people who didn’t have flood insurance, they may need to retain some of those items so they can prove what they lost to get the maximum amount of federal assistance available.

"We're stepping up patrols,” said Guitrau. “We're out there at night, we're out there during the day, and so is the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office.

Mayor Guitrau says it’s devastating to see people take from residents who have already been hit so hard by the storm.

“They just need to stop, this is not the time,” she said. “This is not like we stuck a washing machine out at the road and we want you to take it. We need you to stop otherwise you could be arrested."