Authorities seeking suspected scrap metal thief in Chaparral

Authorities are seeking a 20-year-old Chaparral man who allegedly stole scrap metal and vehicle parts.

The Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy questioned Lorenzo Cano on Dec. 20 after spotting him and several other men standing near a pickup truck loaded with the metal.

Sheriff’s officials say Cano told the deputy he had stolen the metal from a property near the truck after he climbed a 6-foot-tall fence.

They say Cano planned to sell the metal for cash at a recycling plant.

A warrant has been issued for Cano’s arrest, charging him with residential burglary.

Deputies say they’ve noticed a spike in metal thefts in Chaparral over the last few months, but it’s unknown if Cano is connected to any of those cases.