The short version
- El Nuevo Día reports that more than 600 gallons of diesel were reported stolen from two AAA pumping stations in Arecibo
- Metro Puerto Rico and Primera Hora reported the value of the stolen fuel as $3,000 and $3,014.70 respectively
- A representative of the AAA told police that locks were broken at stations in urbanizaciones Paseo Reales and Los Pinos 1 in barrio Santana
- Agent Miguel Barreto Cruz conducted the preliminary investigation and referred the case to the CIC in Arecibo
Theft reported to police
Police in Puerto Rico are investigating the theft of diesel from two pumping stations of the Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA) in Arecibo. El Nuevo Día reported that the incidents were reported on Friday at a station in urbanización Paseo Reales and another in urbanización Los Pinos 1, in the barrio Santana.
According to the police report cited by all three outlets, an AAA representative stated that the locks on both installations were broken to access the supply tanks, from which 375 gallons were taken at one station and 236 gallons at the other. Metro Puerto Rico reported the hurto was reported in the afternoon hours of Friday.
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Investigation underway
Primera Hora reported that the total amount of diesel stolen was 611 gallons with a value of $3,014.70. Metro Puerto Rico placed the value at three thousand dollars.
Agent Miguel Barreto Cruz of Precinct 207 in Sabana Hoyos carried out the preliminary investigation and referred the case to the Criminal Investigations Corps (CIC) of Arecibo, which will continue the inquiries, according to all three reports.
Where the sources differ
All three sources agree that an AAA representative reported broken locks at two pumping stations in Arecibo and the theft of 375 and 236 gallons of diesel from the respective tanks, that the matter was reported on Friday, and that the case was referred to the CIC of Arecibo after a preliminary investigation by agent Miguel Barreto Cruz. El Nuevo Día gave the total as more than 600 gallons while Primera Hora specified 611. Metro Puerto Rico and Primera Hora both reported a value for the stolen fuel, stating $3,000 and $3,014.70 respectively; El Nuevo Día did not mention a dollar amount. Metro Puerto Rico alone stated the hurto was reported in the afternoon hours of Friday.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state when the break-ins and theft actually took place, only when the theft was reported to police. No information is given on how the fuel was removed from the tanks, whether any security cameras captured the events, if there are suspects, or what impact the loss of diesel may have on AAA operations in the area.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Rompieron los candados: roban más de 600 galones de diésel de dos estaciones de bombeo de la AAA en Arecibo
- Reporting Rompieron los candados: roban más de 600 galones de diésel de dos estaciones de bombeo de la AAA en Arecibo
- Reporting Roban diésel de estaciones de la AAA en Arecibo
- Reporting Le roban cientos de galones de diésel a la AAA
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día, Metro Puerto Rico and Primera Hora all carried the story on Saturday, October 31, 2026, drawing from the same police report. The exact value of the stolen diesel rests on the differing figures given by Metro Puerto Rico and Primera Hora.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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