A teenager suspected of breaking into and burglarizing a home Tuesday afternoon was spotted by a Las Cruces Police Department transport officer later that evening and subsequently placed under arrest.
Eduardo Gabriel Lucero, 18, of the 800 block of Nevada Avenue, is charged with one count each of residential burglary and contempt of court.
Las Cruces Police detectives learned that a burglary was committed at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, at a home on the 900 block of Esperanza Street. Taken during the burglary was an Xbox gaming system, Xbox games and a laptop computer.
A witness gave officers a description of a dark-colored sport utility vehicle missing a window that was seen at the scene of the burglary. Later Tuesday evening a Las Cruces Police transport officer spotted a vehicle matching that description near the baseball fields on Hadley Avenue.
Police officers dispatched to Hadley Avenue discovered Lucero in the SUV. Also in the SUV was property consistent with what the victim of the Esperanza Street burglary reported stolen.
The property was later positively identified as the stolen goods. A woman with Lucero at the time he was located was not charged in this case.
Lucero was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with a surety bond set at $5,000 for the residential burglary charge and a cash-only bond of $1,000 for the contempt of court charge.