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[December 04, 2012] 2 held in Walmart, Gerald Champion thefts Dec 04, 2012 (Alamogordo Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Alamogordo Department of Public Safety officers arrested a man and woman for allegedly stealing an estimated $9,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart and over $6,000 worth of medical supplies from Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center on Saturday, an ADPS spokesman said. Detective Sgt. Roger Schoolcraft said Daniel Benitez, 28, and Crystal Vasquez, 33, are charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanor charges in connection with the alleged theft of merchandise and medical supplies on Saturday. Vasquez is jailed at the Otero County Detention Center in lieu of $101,981 and Benitez is jailed in lieu of $101,500 bond, each pending their appearance in court. Schoolcraft said ADPS officers responded to Walmart, 233 S. New York Ave., around 7:56 a.m., in reference to a larceny of jewelry that had already occurred. He said video surveillance showed a Hispanic male suspect breaking into jewelry cabinets then allegedly stealing large amounts of various jewelry pieces. Schoolcraft said the video also showed a Caucasian female suspect assisting the man by being the lookout during the incident. He said the video also showed the man and woman exit the business with the merchandise, then enter a light colored 1970s Ford truck and flee the area. "It was good police work," Schoolcraft said. "It's someone (officers) taking a little bit of information and following up on it." Sgt. Mark Esquero said ADPS officers were called to Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center around 10:24 a.m. Saturday in reference to a larceny of medical supplies. Esquero said the investigation showed a Hispanic male and a Caucasian female were observed in several areas within the facility including authorized personnel only areas and acting suspicious. He said ADPS officers learned through the investigation that GCRMC employees observed the two suspects with several large trash bags containing unknown items then leaving the facility in a yellow Ford pickup truck displaying a New Mexico license plate. Esquero said through their investigation, officers learned that the description of the man and woman suspects at GCRMC and their vehicle match the description of the Walmart suspects and their vehicle. Esquero said further investigation led officers to the identity and place of residency of the woman suspect. Schoolcraft said ADPS officers and detectives conducted surveillance on an apartment complex in the 1200 block of Jefferson Avenue. He said during surveillance of the complex, the vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle arrived at the apartment complex with Benitez as the driver then ADPS officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Schoolcraft said Benitez matched the description of the male suspect seen in the Walmart video and matched the description of the man from witnesses at GCRMC. He said officers went to the apartment of the female suspect then located Vasquez, who also matched the description obtained by the Walmart video and from witnesses at GCRMC. Schoolcraft said Benitez was also found to be in possession of merchandise allegedly stolen from Walmart and drug paraphernalia. He said ADPS officers and detectives obtained and executed a search warrant for Vasquez's and Benitez's apartment and the vehicle. Schoolcraft said as a result of the search warrant, merchandise stolen from Walmart and medical supplies, which included controlled substances from GCRMC, were recovered from the residence and vehicle. He said officers and detectives also recovered stolen property including credit cards belonging to another tenant living in the same apartment complex. Contact Duane Barbati at dbarbati@alamogordonews.com. ___ (c)2012 the Alamogordo Daily News (Alamogordo, N.M.) Visit the Alamogordo Daily News (Alamogordo, N.M.) at www.alamogordonews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To SIP Phones Homepage's Homepage ]