5 Suspects Arrested In Connection To Albuquerque Car Thefts

LAS CRUCES, NM — Police have made five arrests in connection with a theft from a car dealership in Albuquerque. Officers say the suspects were responsible for stealing four cars from the same company.

Police were alerted to the vehicles after an employee of the La Quinta motel on Hickory Drive called to report two vehicles were left for at least two hours with their engines running. When police arrived they discovered those two cars and a third nearby.

Officers said all had been reported stolen from American Toyota in Albuquerque. Police then questioned five men who were found in another nearby vehicle and they said they determined the men were responsible for the auto thefts. After further questioning, police learned of afourth stolenvehicle at the Ramada hotel on University Ave.

Police investigators allege the suspect stole the cars were stolen Monday night and drove them to Las Cruces where they were to meet accomplices from Mexico who were to drive the vehicles across the border.

In custody are Joe John Silva, 18, of the 7300 block of April Flower in Albuquerque; David Sanchez, 18, of the 1500 block of Bartolo Ct. southwest in Albuquerque; Cervando Hernandez Rodriguez, 22, of 530 Utah southeast in Albuquerque; Arnaldo Anchondo-Ordonez, 17, of the 12000 block of Morrow northeast in Albuquerque; and Juan Gallegos, 17, of the 11000 block of Egret Ct. in Albuquerque.

Sanchez, Silva, Anchondo-Ordonez and Gallegos were arrested and each charged with one count of receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle.

Bonds for Sanchez and Silva were set at $5,000. Anchonda-Ordonez and Gallegos are being held without bond.

Rodriguez is charged with one count of receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, one count of conspiracy to commit a fourth-degree felony and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Bond for Rodriguez was set at $50,000.

The four stolen vehicles were impounded and will be returned to Albuquerque Toyota.