Three teenagers suspected of breaking into one of the girl’s grandmother’s home on Friday and stealing her vehicle were arrested the following day.
Syerra Benavidez, Honesty Olivares and Marisela Martinez, all 15, are charged with one count each of aggravated burglary, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and two counts each of conspiracy.
Las Cruces Police learned that on Friday, July 26, the three girls went to the home of Benavidez’s 53-year-old grandmother with a plan of taking the woman’s Geo Tracker.
Detectives learned that Benavidez’s grandmother was home Friday when her doorbell rang. After opening the door, Olivares and Martinez forced their way in and held the woman down while Benavidez entered the home and took the keys to her grandmother’s vehicle.
The woman recognized her granddaughter’s voice as Benavidez yelled instructions to her friends.
On Saturday, the 53-year-old woman learned that her granddaughter was trying to sell the Geo and that it was parked at a residence on Porter Drive. The woman received a ride to that address and retrieved her vehicle before calling police.
Officers located the three girls as they walked along Porter Drive.
The three girls were booked into the juvenile wing of the Dona Ana County Detention Center.