Dona Ana Sheriff’s Office: Burglars Stole Watermelon, Electronics Before Being Caught

Shoe prints lead Dona Ana County Patrol Sheriff’s Deputies to two juvenile burglary suspects and the recovery of stolen booty.

According to Sheriff’s Investigators, Patrol Sheriffs Deputies on Monday were dispatched to the 845 block of Watson Lane in reference to a reported burglary.

When Patrol Sheriff’s Deputies followed shoe prints leading from the just burglarized residence, to a residence in the same neighborhood, they came in contact with a woman, who later reported she discovered her son and a friend setting up a television in her living room, to her complete surprise.

The woman gave Sheriff’s Investigators, who were dispatched to the scene, consent to search her residence.

A 27-inch flat screen television was recovered from the living room of the woman’s residence, along with a 52 inch flat screen, found underneath the mobile home, covered by a blanket.

Sheriff’s officials said that, along with the televisions, Sheriff’s Investigators recovered jewelry, currency and a WII game system, as well as a wallet belonging to one of the suspects allegedly containing stolen credit cards belonging to a woman who reported a burglary to City Police Officers on November 19.

Sheriff’s Investigators said they were told by the victim that the alleged burglars had taken a watermelon from the victim’s refrigerator and ate it in the home.

Sheriff’s officials said the suspects, in their haste, left a fixed blade knife in the master bedroom of the residence they just looted.

The suspects, according to Sheriff’s Investigators, made two trips to the residence.

Sheriff’s Investigators arrested and charged Estevan Ruiz, 15, of the 2700 block of Dona Ana Road and Sergio Rojas, 14, of the 845 block of Watson Lane.

Ruiz was charged with two counts of second degree Aggravated Burglary of a Dwelling, two counts of third degree Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, two counts of fourth degree counts of Tampering with Evidence, one count of fourth degree Burglary of a Dwelling for the Burglary reported on November 19, in the City and one fourth degree count of Criminal Damage to Property over $1,000.00.

Rojas was charged with two counts of second degree Burglary of a Dwelling, two third degree counts of Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, two fourth degree counts of Tampering with Evidence, one fourth degree count of Criminal Damage to Property over $1,000.00 and one fourth degree count of Larceny.

Rojas and Ruiz are currently being detained at the Dona Ana County Detention Center (Juvenile).