Top cop urges Long Beachers to leave compromised homes

Long Beach Police Commissioner Michael Tangney is urging residents whose living conditions have been compromised by the storm to leave for safer temporary housing.

Tangney said that although there has been some looting, the Long Beach police, the National Guard and State Police will be working to protect people and their possessions in the homes they have been forced to leave.

The city has instituted a curfew — from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. — and it will be enforced for the foreseeable future, Tangney said.

Law enforcement has made several storm-related arrests, he said, including two for burglary, three for violating the curfew and one for drunken driving.

Tangney had no other details on the arrests.

State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico said Long Beach will be getting help from troopers from four other outstate barracks — Troops F, K G and D — as the city continues to clean up from the storm and protect its residents.

The troopers are scheduled to arrive on Long Island Wednesday, he said, and 100 are likely to be assigned to aid Suffolk County.

D’Amico also said a couple in a van driving on the Atlantic Beach Bridge has been arrested on charges of looting.

Neither Tangney nor D’Amico had further details on those arrests.