Looting arrests made in wake of B.C. wildfire evacuations

More than 14,000 people in B.C. have been ordered to leave their homes as wildfires continue to rip through the Interior, Cariboo and northern regions.

As if that's not stressful enough, some residents have reported their housesbeing looted while they're away.

On Tuesday, RCMP confirmed that at least 10 people have been arrested in connection with looting in 100 Mile House and Williams Lake.

• B.C. wildfires: the current situation

Tracy Roy lives in the northern city and said she was robbed after she fledthis weekend.

She said she and her husband realized some of their belongings had gone missing when they returned to check on their house on Sunday. In all, Roy said, the couple is missing a TV, three shotguns, a jewellery box and food from the freezer.

"They broke into here ...it looks like they totally hacked away at it," she said.

"How can you do that to somebody who's already going through such stress and then comewhen they're most vulnerable and take their stuff? We're going through enough."

SherrieDickinson was told to leave her home in 150 Mile House on Friday. Shehad minutes to grab her daughter's baby book, bits of important paperwork and some clothes before heading to stay with familyin Williams Lake.

She said she woke up at her mom's house on Saturday to find her white SUV missing from the driveway.

"All of that stuff [I packed] was taken with the vehicle," she said. "Iwas devastated. Absolutely heartbroken. Those are memories [in the baby book] I'll never get back."

Dickinson said Mounties found her vehicle onSaturday nightwithher belongings still inside.

"We're just so grateful," she said.

"But it isheartbreaking.People are thinking they're losing their stuff and their homes and, on top of that, they're being robbed. It's awful thatpeople are taking advantage of people who've had to leave their homes."

RCMPsaid most of the people arrested in relation to looting were known to police. Sgt. Annie Linteau said the force is now patrolling evacuation areas 24/7.

• What you can do to help those affected by the fires

With files from Natasha Frakes