‘Viciously robbed’: Former Tinder boss makes heartbreaking claim amid fires

As the fires keep raging the former CPO of Tinder has made a grim claim about what is happening in abandoned homes.

As the destructive fires continue to rage in the Hollywood Hills, one affluent American has revealed the brazen act happening amidst the rubble and burning.

Brian Norgard, the former chief product officer of the dating app Tinder, took to X to tell his almost 100,000 followers that a huge looting problem had broken out.

Mr Norgard alleged that thieves are breaking into abandoned homes and taking what people have left after fires have devastated the affluent suburb, which thousands were told to flee.

The Los Angeles-resident revealed he’d been robbed last year by a cartel, and now the same criminals had emerged to ransack homes.

“Now, after my house nearly burned to the ground in the Sunset Fire, the same crime syndicate returned, multiple times, looking for another hit. I’m here to educate my fellow

Angelenos what’s really happening in our city,” he wrote.

Read our full coverage of the Los Angeles fires here

Mr Norgard went to X to make claims about looting. Picture: X

He is a former big dog at Tinder. Picture: X

Mr Norgard also reshared an ABC article with security camera footage of thieves walking down a Hollywood Hills street armed with stolen goods in broad daylight.

The former Tinder boss warned his neighbours that “there are looters” and argued that “everyone in your neighbourhood needs to be paying attention and stopping these people”.

He advised people to keep lights on, doors locked, and perimeters secured and use group chats to organise proof of presence. He also warned people to “stay vigilant” and look out for each other.

Mr Norgard also took the moment and made it political.

“My famous actor neighbour came by today after the looting gangs freaked him out to the point of exhaustion and whispered in my ear, ‘I guess I am a conservative now’,” he added.

He made the claim that there are looters roaming Los Angeles. Picture: X

He said the police told him not to tweet about it. Picture: X

Mr Norgard also claimed that after being “viciously robbed” and posting about it online, law enforcement came back to his house to advise him not to post on social media.

“When I asked why, they said they’re doing everything they can and don’t want to encourage more criminal behaviour. Does that make sense to you? Or is this their superiors not wanting bad PR?”, he asked.

Mr Norgard also said that the looting would continue “until people decide they’ve had enough”, and people online were quick to applaud him for highlighting the issue.

“It is time to raise the alarm so everyone knows they are in danger,” one claimed.

“They need public pressure,” someone else said.

“You’re helping others prepare,” one wrote and another claimed it was “ridiculous” for Mr Norgard to be told not to share his looting experience on social media.

The ABC shared this footage of people in broad daylight leaving homes with arms full of stuff. Picture: ABC

Mr Norgard’s claims come after two people have been arrested on suspicion of looting amid the chaos caused by wildfires sweeping across Southern California on Wednesday.

One eyewitness said they saw cars pulled over full of people grabbing items in the heavily populated metropolis.

In a press conference Wednesday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed the arrests and expressed disappointment at having to address the crime in the midst of a devastating natural disaster.

“It’s always sad when I have to say this, but part of our responsibility is to make sure no one loots or steals from our residents or our community members who are already being impacted,” Luna said.

“And I’m sad to report we made two arrests this morning for looting.

“So if you are thinking about coming into any of these areas to steal from our residents, I’m going to tell you something: You’re going to be caught, you’re going to be arrested and you’re going to be prosecuted.”

The mammoth bushfires in Los Angeles have now claimed at least 11 lives with fears high winds could worsen the blazes.

There are concerns that the true death toll could be higher with entire communities decimated.

Almost 200,000 people have been displaced and around 10,000 structures have been destroyed, along with 35,000 acres of land.

The relentless fires have engulfed the homes of everyday Americans and stars. Heiress Paris Hilton has said she’s “shattered” after losing her home.

The O.C alum Adam Brody, who was recently a Golden Globe nominee for the breakout hit Nobody Wants This, and his wife Gossip Girl alum Leighton Meester, lose their family home. The fires have ravaged the Hollywood elite’s mansions everyone from Mel Gibson to Anthony Hopkins has seen their homes go up in flames.

Originally published as ‘Viciously robbed’: Former Tinder boss makes heartbreaking claim amid fires