Accused Phony Exterminator Arrested in Burglary
Las Cruces police arrested suspected burglar they say posed as a pest exterminator.
Witnesses told police they saw a man knocking on the front door of home about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday on the 4000 block of Windridge Circle, and a short time later saw him leaving the home with two flat-screen TVs.
Officers conducted a traffic stop on Romero’s vehicle a few minutes later and in the back seat of his vehicle located the TVs. A DVD player taken from the residence was also recovered, police said.
Jesse Kevin Romero, 34, of 1223 Mission Nuevo Drive, was arrested on suspicion of residential burglary, larceny over $500, criminal damage to property over $1,000 and possession of burglary tools, as well as driving with a suspended license and operating a motor vehicle without proper registration. He is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center without bond.
Police said Romero would drive through several residential areas and randomly stop at homes, where he would exit his vehicle with a pesticide spayer. Witnesses told police that Romero would knock on the front doors and then walk around the homes carrying the sprayer while peering through windows.
Las Cruces police continue to investigate similar burglaries, and additional charges against Romero are possible.
