Over $50K in items stolen from ABQ businesses, man arrested
Jul. 23—Police are tying an Albuquerque man to a commercial burglary operation that's resulted in more than $50,000 in merchandise being stolen from area stores in the last two months.
Cody Montoya, 40, is facing more than 20 charges, including 10 counts each of criminal damage and conspiracy and seven counts of non-residential burglary. He is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, with a detention hearing set for Thursday. His attorney could not be reached for comment.
Court records show that in June 2023, Montoya pleaded guilty to unlawful taking of a motor vehicle after stealing a rental car. Three months later, Montoya pleaded guilty to attempting to commit nonresidential burglary and larceny after stealing tools from a hardware store in Moriarty. He was sentenced to probation.
In the latest case, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, Montoya — who was accompanied by another man and a woman — would use a car to pull down security gates, then use crowbars to break into the businesses. About $60,000 in items were stolen.
Albuquerque Police Department spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said he had no information on the accomplices.
"The amount of losses inflicted on (the) businesses is substantial," a pretrial motion states.
Police said on July 16, they began tracking a black Volkswagen Jetta with New Mexico plates that Montoya was known to drive during the burglaries.
The complaint states that the commercial burglaries happened at Boot Barn, Target and numerous hair salons and beauty supply stores. Items that were stolen include boots, workwear, headphones, vacuums and hair products.
Police said on July 16, they found the suspect's vehicle parked outside a mobile home in the 4300 block of Prospect NE, near Menaul, where Montoya lived. Police said they were able to identify Montoya through surveillance from the businesses.
The complaint states that on July 17, employees of a vape shop told police the suspects stole over $20,000 worth of merchandise.
The next day, police conducted surveillance of the Jetta and saw a man — later identified as Montoya — get out of a red sedan, remove "what appeared to be boxes" of vacuums and other items, then bring them to the Jetta.
Police said they later received a call of a burglary at Target where vacuums, televisions and steam cleaners were stolen.
According to the complaint, on July 18, they arrested Montoya and his girlfriend in front of a Walmart in Northeast Albuquerque. While talking with the woman, police said several vapes were sticking out of her pocket. She told police Montoya gave them to her the day before and that Montoya was the only person she saw drive the Jetta.
Police said they found vacuums and "other items that appeared to be new" sitting in the Jetta.
