This screen-save from a video posted to social media shows auto burglary suspects who broke into a vehicle in the Sonoma Ranch area of Las Cruces.
Las Cruces police are once again reminding residents to remove or conceal valuables and lock their vehicle doors when leaving them unattended.
About 2 a.m. Thursday, June 11, 2026, at least four separate incidents of auto burglary were reported in a neighborhood near Rinconada Boulevard. Police believe the perpetrators were roaming the residential neighborhood, checking for unlocked automobile doors and stealing items from inside.
Unfortunately, the Thursday morning auto burglaries are not isolated and not limited to that neighborhood. Police have taken similar reports from throughout the city.
Police encourage motorists to follow these tips to help limit the chances of becoming a victim of auto burglary:
- Roll up windows and lock doors when leaving vehicle unattended.
- Keep items of intrigue (backpacks, luggage, packages, shopping bags, electronics, tools, etc.) out of sight.
- Remove or properly secure tools and other gear commonly carried in trailers or pickup beds.
- Do not leave firearms or ammunition inside an unattended vehicle.
- Do not leave spare keys or garage door openers inside your vehicle.
- Refrain from leaving key fobs inside an unattended vehicle.
- Do not leave bank cards, cash or important documents inside your vehicle.
- Remove key from the ignition, and refrain from leaving your vehicle unlocked and unattended while running a quick errand or pumping gasoline.
- If possible, park in a well-lit area or inside a garage.
- Use a self-arming audible vehicle alarm system.
- Consider installing a monitored home security system or a motion-sensor ‘smart’ alarm, such as a Ring or Nest doorbell systems, that overlook the driveway. Such ‘smart’ alarms record video and send alerts via cell phone when motion is detected.
Anyone with information on who may have committed such a crime is encouraged to call police at (575) 526-0795. Those who witness suspicious behavior or activities – such as people or unknown vehicles roaming residential neighborhoods late at night or during early-morning hours – are asked to immediately call police.
Comments