what is looting

Looting is the act of stealing or taking goods by force, typically in the midst of a military, political, or other social crisis, such as war, natural disasters, or rioting. It can involve the taking of goods from shops during a violent event. Looting can also refer to antiquities being removed from countries by unauthorized people, either domestic people breaking the law seeking monetary gain or foreign nations, which are usually more interested in prestige or previously, "scientific discovery". The term "looting" can also be used to describe the removal of the contents of Egyptian tombs that were taken without permission. Looting can be used as an easy way to express contempt for the concept of rules of war altogether. In the case of a sudden change in a country or regions government, it can be difficult to determine what constitutes looting as opposed to a new government taking custody of the property in question.