Illegal immigrant charged in car thefts

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New charges have been brought against an illegal immigrant who keeps getting arrested for stealing cars.

Andres Pacheco Flores, 26, appeared before judge Saturday, facing charges related stealing a back hoe and a wheel loader.

The heavy equipment was valued at an estimated $100,000, according to the criminal complaint.

On Tuesday, he was arrested for burglarizing three cars in a different incident.

TLC Plumbing and Utility reported the vehicles stolen on Jan. 31. They were discovered abandoned in southeast Albuquerque.

Police said that Flores was arrested for three auto thefts which happened seven months ago.

"He was actually deported to Mexico, but he crossed the border illegally and started stealing vehicles again," Albuquerque Police Department Lt. Harold Prudencio said.

Flores was recently named on of Albuquerque's top five property crime offenders. He's currently in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center.