SWAT enters Lares cooperative after alarm activation
Police responded to a reported break-in at LARCOOP early Friday but found no suspects inside, though property damage was noted.
The short version
- Police were alerted at about 1:34 a.m. Friday to an alarm at the LARCOOP cooperative on PR-129, kilometer 19.9, in the Callejones sector of Lares, Primera Hora reported
- SWAT agents entered the building and found no one inside but observed damage to the property, according to Primera Hora and Telemundo Puerto Rico
- It remains unknown whether any items or money were taken, both outlets reported
- The case will be referred to the CIC in Utuado and the San Juan Bank Robbery Division, Primera Hora reported
Early morning response
Agents from the Puerto Rico Police Department activated the SWAT unit early Friday after the alarm system at the LARCOOP cooperative in Lares was triggered. Primera Hora reported that authorities were notified around 1:34 a.m. and responded to the site on highway PR-129, kilometer 19.9, in the Callejones barrio.
Officers from the local police area also arrived at the scene. SWAT agents then entered the premises to conduct a search. No individuals were found inside the cooperative, but damage to the property was reported. Telemundo Puerto Rico reported a similar sequence of events.
Investigation assigned
The preliminary investigation was handled by agent Rubén Vázquez of the Lares precinct, according to Primera Hora. The case is being referred to the Criminal Investigations Corps (CIC) in the Utuado area in conjunction with the Bank Robbery Division in San Juan.
Both outlets noted that it is not yet known if any articles or money were taken from the cooperative during the incident.
Where the sources differ
Both Primera Hora and Telemundo Puerto Rico agree on the approximate time of the alarm (1:34 a.m. on Friday), the location (LARCOOP at PR-129 km 19.9 in Callejones, Lares), the arrival of police and SWAT, the discovery of no persons inside, and the presence of property damage. Primera Hora provides additional details including the name of the preliminary investigator (agent Rubén Vázquez), the full referral to both the CIC of Utuado and the San Juan Bank Robbery Division, and the exact name of the cooperative as LARCOOP. Telemundo Puerto Rico reports only that the case will be investigated by the CIC of Utuado and does not mention the Bank Robbery Division or the investigator's name.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state the extent or specific nature of the property damage observed. They also do not indicate whether any surveillance footage was reviewed, if fingerprints or other evidence were collected at the scene, or provide any timeline for when the CIC investigation might yield further updates or charges.
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.
- Reporting SWAT entra a cooperativa de Lares tras activarse alarma
- Reporting Escalan cooperativa en Lares; el SWAT llegó al lugar
How we checked this
Primera Hora and Telemundo Puerto Rico both covered the police response to the Lares cooperative alarm. Details on the investigator and the joint referral to the Bank Robbery Division rest solely on the Primera Hora account.
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.