Stolen Puerto Rican flags returned just in time for parade

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- After Puerto Rican flags were taken from Niagara Street last weekend, hundreds of them were seen proudly waving once again during the Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade on Saturday -- including a few that had been stolen, organizers confirmed.

Just days before the parade, empty flagpoles lined Niagara Street after nearly a dozen flags were taken. Parade president Charles Torres told WIVB News 4 that Buffalo Police identified those responsible for the theft.

The culprits, Torres said, turned out to be quite different from what he originally expected. It was a pair of kids who took down the 11 flags last weekend, he said.

According to Torres, both children were under the age of 14 and managed to climb the nearly dozen light poles without using any tools.

“It was two youths," Torres said. "They were overexuberant about the upcoming parade and wanted a flag. Unfortunately, they took all 11."

A spokesperson for the Buffalo Police Department said, “No names will be released and no arrests were made,” as parade organizers chose not to pursue legal action or press charges.

“In lieu of that, we certainly declined prosecution. This is a learning experience for them and their family, and we're happy to see that our flags are back up, as you can see,” said Torres. “Extremely grateful again to the City of Buffalo and the Buffalo Police Department for jumping on this as quick as they did and conducting a full and thorough investigation."

The flags were returned to Niagara Street just in time for Saturday’s parade. Torres noted that the two kids involved in the incident are Hispanic themselves.

“Having a Hispanic mother, I'm sure that's probably harder for them than what the system does,” Torres said with a laugh.

While disheartened that the flags were stolen in the first place, Torres expressed relief that the incident wasn’t something more nefarious, like a hate crime.

“The best case that we could have hoped for," Torres said. "Again, thinking that it could have been something else, we would be on pins and needles. You've seen what has happened in other cities. And as organizers, we have to prepare for a lot of circumstances."