Riot Aftermath : Roberti Urges Harsher Laws for Looters and Arsonists : Legislation: The senator admits even tougher penalties probably wouldn’t have prevented last week’s destruction.

State Senate President Pro Tem David Roberti called Tuesday for increased penalties for looters and arsonists but conceded the measures probably would not have prevented widespread destruction in last week’s riots.

Roberti, a Hollywood-based Democratic lawmaker who is running for election in a San Fernando Valley district, said such legislation would assure worried residents, who “have to have the feeling that something is being done” to protect their neighborhoods.

Roberti said he will introduce legislation prohibiting judges from putting convicted looters on probation and increasing maximum penalties for arson from seven years to nine.

Although the rioting was blamed for more than 7,000 fires to date, there have been no arrests for riot-related arson, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department said Tuesday. Many of the 12,000 arrests reported, however, were on suspicion of looting.

Although arson and looting are felonies already punishable by prison terms, there are instances in which looters could be granted probation, Roberti said. Eliminating that possibility, he said, would help prevent the sort of widespread theft that took place during the Los Angeles riots.

“Mandatory penalties are a real deterrent,” said Roberti.

But he added that even the presence of sterner penalties might not have had an impact on last week’s riots, because widespread radio and television news reports of looting unhindered by arrests probably encouraged even more looting.

“I’m not blaming the media, but some reports were like an invitation,” Roberti said.

He said he also intends to introduce legislation that would allow the state attorney general to offer rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of looters and arsonists. City and county authorities now can offer such rewards.

Roberti made his remarks at a news conference held in front of an Italian deli in Panorama City that was looted and set afire Thursday.

His current Hollywood-based district includes only Burbank and a portion of North Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley. But because his district is being carved up, he is running for the seat formerly held by Alan Robbins representing the heavily Democratic 20th District, which includes Panorama City, Van Nuys, San Fernando, Pacoima, Reseda and Mission Hills.

Roberti, who finished first in an April 7 primary, faces Republican Carol Rowen, as well as three minor party candidates, in the June 2 runoff election.

Defending his decision to hold a press conference in a part of town he does not represent, Roberti said, “Had I gone to Hollywood, someone would have said, ‘Don’t you know there’s a problem in the Valley?’ ”

Besides, Roberti said, “I’m running for reelection here.”

Roberti said the state cannot afford to help rebuild the parts of Los Angeles burned during the violence. He said the financially strapped state is unable to give or lend money to owners who lost their businesses.

“I can’t make any immediate promises because the state is having enormous deficit problems,” Roberti said.

He said he will oppose any such tax increase.

But he also said he would seek to have the state guarantee loans from private investors to business owners who suffered riot-related losses. He also said he planned to speak with insurance company representatives to encourage them to ensure that businesses operating in parts of the city hit by violence will be able to obtain affordable insurance. If necessary, he said, the Legislature could consider limiting the cost of premiums.