Police: Suspect stole $10K, passport and credit cards from hotel room

Police arrested a man accused of stealing nearly $10,000 while burglarizing a room at hotel room Monday morning.

Robert S. Alarcon, 46, of the 1000 block of 3rd Street, is charged with one count each of residential burglary, attempted residential burglary, larceny over $2,500 and possession of marijuana.

Police say the robbery happened at about 1:15 a.m. Monday, June 26, at the EconoLodge hotel at 2585 S. Valley Dr.

Investigators learned Alarcon checked into the hotel on Sunday evening, and roughly five hours later, surveillance footage showed Alarcon entering the hotel room next to his and leaving with several backpacks that belonged to the guest who had rented that room.

The victim temporarily left his hotel room door ajar, which allegedly gave Alarcon easy access to the room, police said.

Among the personal items stolen were the victim’s passport, credit cards, a cell phone, an unknown amount of Egyptian money and an estimated $10,000 in U.S. currency, police said.

Video surveillance showed Alarcon leaving the hotel shortly after the burglary.

Police said Alarcon returned to the hotel at about noon Monday. Police did not say why the suspect returned to the hotel, where he was detained by police.

Alarcon violated terms of his probation, police said. He was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is currently being held without bond.