EPPD officers investigating theft of unattended vehicles arrest teenager

Police officers investigating the recent thefts of unattended vehicles around El Paso arrested a 17-year-old boy allegedly caught in the act.

Police charged Antonio Baires with “Theft Over $2,500, Under $30,000.” Baires was booked into the El Paso County jail on a $25,000 bond.

During a two day operation on the 15th and 16th of January, the Auto Theft Task Force spotted 68 vehicles left running and unattended by car owners.

The police officers alerted the owners and issued two citations for the violation, police said.

In one of the cases, police officers allegedly spotted Baires entering a Nissan that had been left running and unattended by its owner on the 5500 block of Dearborne in Northeast El Paso.

Investigators approached the teen as he was backing out of the driveway. Police said Baires attempted to run away, but was apprehended immediately.

Police recently reported six vehicles were stolen in between December 23, 2018 and January 10, 2019 after the owners left the vehicles running and unattended. All six of those car thefts happened in Northeast El Paso. Police have not said whether Baires is suspected in any of those thefts.