Dec. 15, 2008 – Burglars tripped the alarm at Pueblo Supermarket in Long Bay around 5 a.m. Monday, and were spotted both inside and outside the store when law-enforcement officers arrived at the scene soon after. Though nothing was taken during the attempted heist, police have not yet apprehended any suspects and are calling on community members to come forward with any information they have.
Police are offering a $10,000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of suspects involved in the incident.
It is unclear at this point whether the intruders were armed, according to Police Commissioner James H. McCall. But no one was injured in the near three-hour standoff with police, and no hostages were taken, he said at the scene.
"When officers arrived at the scene, they actually saw one suspect inside the building and one on the roof," McCall said. "Because of the size of the location, they immediately called for backup, and a tag team was assembled. The officers were able to gain entry into the building, and they conducted a thorough search, but it appeared that the suspects were no longer in the building."
Pueblo’s managers provided the key to allow police to enter through the front door of the store, he said.
It appears the intruders entered through the roof and exited through the store's back door, which was damaged, McCall said.
"We do generally get a lot of these types of alarm calls, but unfortunately, today was the real thing," he said. Since a portion of Pueblo’s parking lot is still being treated as a crime scene, the store will be closed until investigators finish gathering evidence, McCall said.
Responding to the call were officers from the V.I. Police Department, Lottery, Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, U.S. Marshals Service and the Health Department, according to officials at the scene.
"We have so far been able to gather some good evidence and have some solid leads to follow up on," said Deputy St. John Police Chief Darren Foy.
There is generally an upswing in burglary-related incidents during the Christmas season, McCall said.
"We’re asking the public to be vigilant during this time," he said. "When you go out, for example, don’t leave your gifts in the back seat of your car. Make sure everything is secured in the trunk. Don’t leave anything out in the open."
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