By KRWG News
Las Cruces – A man arrested last week for posing as a pest exterminator and breaking into a home is now charged with a June 2011 residential burglary on Valencia Street.
Jesse Kevin Romero, 34, of 1223 Mission Nuevo, is charged with one additional count of residential burglary for breaking into and burglarizing a Valencia Drive home on June 22.
Just last week Romero was charged with residential burglary, larceny, criminal damage to property and possession of burglary tools after he was seen burglarizing a home on Windridge Circle. Romero also was found to be driving on a suspended license and operating a motor vehicle without proper registration.
In both incidents Romero is believed to have pretended to be a pest exterminator as a ruse for casing homes to burglarize. At least one witness saw Romero peering through residential windows while carrying a pump sprayer typically used by professional exterminators.
The occupant of the home on Valencia Drive actually confronted Romero on June 22 when she drove up and found him leaving her backyard. Romero eluded that he must be at the wrong home and quickly left. The woman then discovered that her home had been burglarized.
On July 5 a witness saw Romero knocking on the front door of a residence on Windridge Circle. When no one answered the door Romero broke in and took two television sets. Las Cruces Police officers conducted a traffic stop on Romero's vehicle a few minutes later and located the stolen property in the back seat.
Detectives learned that Romero used to work for a well-established local pest control company but was fired approximately seven years ago.
Romero is being held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.