2 women accused of looting North Dallas home destroyed by tornado

A homeowner whose North Dallas home was destroyed in the Oct. 20 tornado suffered another blow last week when burglars looted the wreckage, police said.

Dallas police arrested two women as they tried to leave the home in the 7700 block of Northaven Road on Monday.

Toni Renee Caldwell, 43, and Rhonda Cheryl Harper, 45, face charges of burglary of a building after police say they admitted stealing $1,150 worth of construction equipment, gardening tools and other items from the home.

Caldwell also has three outstanding warrants in Mesquite, Dallas police said.

According to an arrest-warrant affidavit, a neighbor saw the suspects roaming through the ruined home with flashlights and thought it looked suspicious. The women are suspected of taking a weed trimmer, two sanders and an edger, a fan, carpet cleaner and a metal shelf.

The property has since been returned to the homeowner, police said.

Last month’s outbreak of tornadoes devastated North Dallas and surrounding areas, causing some $2 billion in insured losses, flattening homes and businesses and turning lives upside-down.