Blue Light Special | Who knew you could get a burrito at 5 a.m.?

Law enforcement on the lookout for looters in flood zones.

Horry County Police and the National Guard are manning more than a dozen checkpoints near the Waccamaw River this week to assist residents trying to access their flooded homes and to block looters from burglarizing the disaster areas.

They've established a fool proof method of questioning to prohibit said looters from illegal activity: "Are you a looter?"

“There’s always someone out there who will take advantage of every situation,” said Lt. Raul Denis with the Horry County Police, as he tucked a slightly used 52" flat-screen Vizio television into his car.

“People will look for a way in to fill whatever will fit into their backpack such as laptops and other small valuable items,” Denis said. “Please take those items with you when you secure your home, and let the nearest checkpoint officer know that your house is clear and secure, and that there should not be anyone around your property.”

“At a time like this, it's just a shame that people would take advantage of people in this situation, you just hate to see it," said Capt. Robert McCullough with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

Many residents aren’t taking any chances with the rising water or burglars; some are boating their small and larger possessions down flooded streets, including giant flat screen TVs and couches, or just shooting at random people they see, which seems to be more effective.

No criminal activity in the flood zones has been reported, but experience with past hurricanes has taught law enforcement officers that looters are lurking and looking for a route into flooded neighborhoods. Experience with every other regular day activities has taught them that people are just terrible in general, and don't need a natural disaster as an excuse to be an asshole.

If thieves find their path blocked by flooded streets and law enforcement blockades, they’ll try boating down the Waccamaw River. And that’s where criminals are likely to drift into officers from the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) who are patrolling the river, which is just downright hilarious.

“We’re maintaining a vigilant eye and watching for that in evacuated areas,” said Capt. Robert McCullough with the DNR. “We’re always keenly aware of looting, especially in these instances,” McCullough chuckled, filling a Super Mari Brothers pillowcase with jewelry.

“At a time like this, it’s just a shame that people would take advantage of people in this situation, you just hate to see it,” McCullough said.

While the county police, fire and rescue workers, and DNR are watching checkpoints and the river, some residents in Lee's Landing have taken matters in their own hands and installed security cameras at their homes to help catch thieves.

Which is a great plan. Putting electronic equipment close to water.

Residents are also using their private boats to patrol the flooded streets to check on their homes as well as their neighbor’s property, after checking in first with officials so that law enforcement knows they are allowed to be in the flood zone.

“This is not the time to be pleasure boating,” Denis said. “If you are back there and police see you, we might chase you down to see what the heck you are doing.”

The term "chase" implies that you are running from the police. If you are running from the police you are in all likelihood doing something stupid, and need to be chased down.

Long story short, stop being assholes. In the wise words of Bill S. Preston Esquire, and Ted Theodore Logan: "Be excellent to each other."

Police respond to shooting at burrito bar

Myrtle Beach police are investigating after a shooting happened at a downtown restaurant.

Police said the shooting happened about 5:13 a.m. Thursday at Farlo’s Burrito Bar at 815 Main St. in Myrtle Beach.

I think the biggest takeaway from this story right out the gate is the fact that Myrtle Beach has a burrito bar that is open at 5:13 in the morning. What the hell have we all been doing with our lives?

Lt. Joey Crosby, Myrtle Beach police spokesman, said a preliminary investigation revealed there was a disturbance at the restaurant and shortly afterward a victim was shot.

And "disturbance" clearly means "shooting."

Authorities said the shooting victim was taken to the hospital, and his condition was unknown later Thursday morning. What WAS known is that minutes prior to the shooting he was living the American dream, crushing burritos at 5 in the morning.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Myrtle Beach Police Department at 843-918-1382.

Anyone who likes burritos outside of normal business operating hours can make their way down to Farlo's Burrito Bar at 815 Main St. in Myrtle Beach.

More information will be released as soon as it is provided. Please check back for story updates.

This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 12:25 PM with the headline "Blue Light Special | Who knew you could get a burrito at 5 a.m.?."