BCSO: Teen admits to 500 break-ins

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Deputies arrested a man for burglaries, but what he told them after they nabbed him likely had deputies in disbelief.

The 18-year-old burglary suspect said he had broken into, or tired to break into 500 homes and cars.

Joseph Barlow says he committed those crimes by simply walking door to door, seeing which home or car was unlocked and taking what he could grab. 

Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deputies say early Tuesday morning, one of Barlow's victims who lives in Tinnin Farms, noticed someone had broken into his BMW. The car was parked in the garage and the victim got away with gift cards and an I-pad.

The victim went for a jog along a nearby ditch when he spotted Barlow carrying the stolen I-pad. The two got into a fight and Barlow begged him not to call the cops. Barlow got away, but was picked up by deputies who spotted him along the ditch.

When they questioned him Barlow told them he committed, or attempted to commit 500 break-ins in the Albuquerque area, including his own neighborhood.

"Knowing this kid, I kind of figured something like this was going on," said neighbor Magdalena Romero. "I always had a bad vibe with him. He was a little troublemaker."

Romero said she also wished he would get help.

Investigators say they are working with Albuquerque Police to match Barlow to crimes in the Albuquerque area that fit his agenda.