Region 4 News
Region 4 Director:  Mario Ceniceros, El Paso Police Department
 

Submitted by Mario Ceniceros

   Auto Theft Ring Members Arrested in El Paso (click on title to view story)

 

Submitted by Mario Ceniceros

   El Paso Auto Theft Task Force Takes Down Another Auto Theft Ring

The El Paso Auto Theft Task Force (ATTF) had been monitoring subjects possibly involved in auto thefts and compiling information during surveillance. On March 22, 2010, ATTF followed up on some information which led to the recovery of a stolen Ford F250 at 7401 Phoenix that had been stolen a few days prior. ATTF set up surveillance on the stolen vehicle and a short time later subject #1 (Rodriguez) got into the stolen vehicle and started it up. ATTF boxed in the vehicle and the subject #1 (Rodriguez) took off on foot. The subject was not located.  However, he was identified and warrants were worked up on the subject. The stolen vehicle was processed and stored.

On March 24, 2010, ATTF officers spotted subject #1 (Rodriguez) along with subjects #2 (J.Macias) and #3 (Hernandez) at Cotton and Montana in a yellow Ford Mustang. Subjects #1 (Rodriguez) and #3 (Hernandez) took off on foot. Subject #1 (Rodriguez) was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit and subject #3 (Hernandez) was not located but identified. Subject #1 (Rodriguez) and #2 (J. Macias) were placed under arrest and interviewed. Voluntary statements of accused were obtained which led to clearing 15 local theft of vehicle cases and 9 out-of-town theft of vehicle cases. The investigation also linked them to six attempted theft of vehicle cases through out the city. Subjects #1 (Rodriguez) and #2 (J. Macias) were booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility.

On March 25, 2010 ATTF continued the investigation and attempted to locate another subject involved in the auto theft ring. ATTF located subject #3 (Hernandez) who had eluded officers the day before. He was located at 2100 Olive and taken into custody. A voluntary statement of accused was obtained admitting his involvement in the thefts. He was later booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility.

On March 26, 2010 ATTF followed up on additional information and were able to locate subject #4 (L. Macias) at 7631 N. Loop where he attempted to elude officers. He was taken into custody and refused to provide a statement. The subject was wanted on an unrelated assault warrant. ATTF had compiled corroborating evidence to charge subject #4 (L. Macias) with his involvement in the thefts. He was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility.  ATTF is currently searching for another subject possibly involved in the operation.

Subjects indicated they had been taking vehicles from El Paso and surrounding areas, as well as from New Mexico, as far away as Albuquerque. We are currently working with New Mexico authorities developing additional subjects and clearing additional cases Investigation continues.

Vehicles Recovered/Taken From

2004 blue Dodge Ram diesel Las Cruces, NM
2004 white Ford F-250 5115 N. Mesa (WSRCC) Case #10-055157
1999 yellow Ford F-250 2929 N. Mesa (WSRCC) Case #10-056179
2000 maroon Ford F-250 5035 S. Desert (WSRCC) Case #10-070039
2004 black Chevy Z71 7440 Remcon (WSRCC) Case #09-356311
2005 white Cadillac Escalade 1850 Zaragoza (PHRCC) Case #10-006247
2002 silver Dodge Ram diesel 1505 N. Zaragoza (PHRCC) Case #10-007001
2005 white Ford F-250 11855 Gateway West (PHRCC) Case #09-342277

Local Theft of Vehicle Cases Cleared/Taken From

10-079170 750 Sunland Park (WSRCC) 06 Ford F-250
10-053313 11400 Chito Samaniego (PHRCC) 03 Ford F-250
10-076084 11049 Gateway West (PHRCC) 90 Ford work truck
10-051267 11049 Gateway West (PHRCC) 06 Ford F-350
10-075040 Motel near Leo’s Restaurant (WSRCC) 00 Ford F-350
10-067042 5115 N. Mesa (WSRCC) 00 Ford F-350
10-055157 5115 N. Mesa (WSRCC) 04 Ford F-250
10-056179 2929 N. Mesa (WSRCC) 99 Ford F-250
10-070039 5035 S. Desert (WSRCC) 00 Ford F-250
10-083073 Vista Del Sol/ George Dieter (PHRCC) 01 Ford F-250
09-356311 7440 Remcon (PHRCC) 04 Chevy Z71
10-006247 1850 N. Zaragoza (PHRCC) 05 Cad Escalade
10-007001 1505 N. Zaragoza (PHRCC) 02 Dodge Ram
10-076141 6001 Gateway West (CRCCC) 04 Ford F-250
10-013210 750 Sunland Park (WSRCC) 00 Dodge Ram
There are other cases that ATTF is currently researching to add to the Cleared List

Out-Of-Town Vehicles stolen that subjects admitted to stealing - Vehicle Taken From Agency Case #

2000 white Dodge Ram diesel NM (Sunland Park Casino)
2000 green Dodge Ram diesel NM (Sunland Park Casino)
2003 black Ford F-250 NM (Sunland Park Casino)
2005 maroon Ford F-250 King Ranch NM (Sunland Park Casino) SP2010000505
1999 red Ford F-350 NM (Sunland Park Casino) SP2010000402
2005 black Dodge Ram 2500 NM (Best Buy/Las Cruces) L200929079
2004 blue Dodge Ram diesel NM (Las Cruces) L200930079
02 or 03 Chevy Silverado NM (Las Cruces) Lap Top recovered from vehicle
1996 white Dodge Ram NM (Las Cruces) L201002742

Attempted Theft of Vehicle Cases/Cleared Location

10-078268 2006 Ford F-250 (latents taken at scene) 750 Sunland Park (wsrcc)
10-050039 2005 blue Dodge 2500 (latents taken at scene) 745 Sunland Park (wsrcc)
10-074273 2001 silver Ford F-250 7440 Remcon (wsrcc)
10-078268 2006 white Ford F-250 (latents taken at scene) 750 Sunland Park (wsrcc)
10-079193 2005 orange Ford F-250 7025 N. Mesa (wsrcc)
10-034309 2006 black/grey Ford F-250 11033 Gateway W (phrcc)
ATTF currently is researching other attempted thefts that may possibly related to the subjects