Whoever commits dacoit, robbery, theft, or theft in a building, vessel or vehicle or criminal misappropriation, if the commission of such offence takes place,—(a)during a riot or any disturbance of the public peace at or in the neighborhood of the riot, or the place at which such disturbance of the public peace occurs, or(b)in any area in which a riot or disturbance of the public peace has occurred and before law and order has been completely restored in such area, or(c)in circumstances such that a person whose property is stolen or criminally misappropriated is not, as a consequence of rioting or any other disturbance of the public peace, present or able to protect such property, is said to commit the offence of looting.
