Man steals bait car twice, makes history

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Albuquerque Police say Anthony Chavez has done something no criminal before him has been able to do.

At just 21-years-old Chavez has racked up a number of charges and according to online court records he’s got a thing for breaking into cars.

“This is what they do they go out and this is their work, they essentially go out and victimize other people,” said APD Property Crimes Sergeant J.J. Griego.

Officers say Chavez like many other property crime offenders has made a career out of stealing but that in at least one area Chavez has blazed a trail.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen the same individual caught on two different bait car videos here in town,” Sgt. Griego said.

APD said Chavez first broke into a bait car earlier this month in the Southeast area of the city.

Then a couple of weeks later officers say Chavez broke into a different bait car in the Southwest part of the city, that time he drove off, but was caught a short while later.

“If he were to manage to find two bait cars in the whole city of Albuquerque, there’s no telling what he did in the between those two cars and what he did prior to those,” said Griego.

As of Friday afternoon Chavez was still behind bars but Sergeant Griego said it is only a matter of time until he bonds out and gets back to ‘work’ so they are hoping the old adage of locking your car doors and taking out any valuables does not fall on deaf ears.

“We want to make sure that people are doing these things to prevent themselves from becoming a victim from people like Mr. Chavez,” Sgt. Griego said.

APD said a lot of times criminals like Chavez get low bonds because they are not accused of a violent crime, which allows them to get back on the streets quickly and back to their old habits.