Police arrested two young men suspected of stealing an all-terrain vehicle from a home in Las Cruces early Tuesday morning and burglarizing another residence in the unincorporated county.
Aurelio Andres Cruz and Israel Solis, both 19, are charged with one count each of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and conspiracy. Cruz also faces one count of attempting to conceal his identity and was found to have an outstanding warrant from Magistrate Court for his arrest.
Shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, Las Cruces Police were called to south Telshor Boulevard where two men were reportedly pushing an ATV down the road. Responding officers located Cruz and Solis on Fairway Drive, near Don Roser Drive, along with the ATV and white 2006 Dodge Charger.
Upon questioning, Cruz initially identified himself as someone else. Officers then learned that Cruz and Solis stole the ATV from a home on Telshor and were trying to drive it away, but it kept stalling.
Upon further investigation, Las Cruces Police detectives learned that Cruz and Solis may have been responsible for burglarizing a home off Las Alturas Drive prior to taking the ATV. Property from the residential burglary was located in the Dodge Charger.
Police subsequently located the owner of the ATV and identified the home that had been burglarized.
Cruz and Solis were both booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bonds set at $5,000 each.