2 burglaries in 6 hours cost tens of thousands of dollars in losses

Two burglaries within the span of six hours, on opposite sides of Las Cruces, cost business owners tens of thousands of dollars.

“It was pretty frustrating,” said Chris Ortiz, head golf professional at Red Hawk Golf Club off Sonoma Ranch Boulevard. “We work so hard here day in, day out, every day.”

Ortiz said the burglar entered the shop just after 9 p.m. and stole nearly $18,000 worth of golf clubs. The burglar, caught on camera, did not touch the register. “He knew exactly what he wanted,” Ortiz said.

Las Cruces Police said the stolen merchandise included clubs and putters from several top manufacturers including Callaway, Cleveland and TaylorMade. Police said the suspect may try to sell the stolen merchandise.

Across town, another burglary happened just hours later. “It’s like they were attacking us,” said Bobby Perez, who has owned the Chilitos on Valley Drive for twenty years.

Perez told ABC-7 his restaurant was completely ransacked by at least two burglars just after 1 a.m. on Monday morning. The men not only stole two safes, but tore up his office and broke beer bottles all over his restaurant. He said the damage seems to have been done by someone with knowledge of the building.

“I don’t know if they’re somebody with a vendetta against us,” Perez said. “I have no idea.”

The restaurant was closed for part of Monday, but Chilitos was open again by 4 p.m. thanks to the hard work of its staff and the owner’s family.

The Las Cruces Police Department is investigating both burglaries, which occurred on opposite sides of town. A spokesman for the department said they have not yet ruled the crimes as related events.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch at 575-526-0795.