SFPD: Robber hit two stores in 20 mins

SANTA FE (KRQE) - It all started at around 7:20 pm.

Santa Fe Police were called a Shell station near Airport Road and Cerrillos Road. The clerk told them about a robbery that had just happened.

"He said the suspect implied that he had a gun," said Sgt. Andrea Dobyns with SFPD. "He was wearing a red bandana, sunglasses and a grey hoodie and left in a pickup truck."

Witnesses gave investigators a partial license plate on the truck. While SFPD was looking for that vehicle, William Calles was working the register at an Allsup's Convenience Store on Calle Lorca near St. Michael's Drive. At about 7:40 a suspicious looking man walked into the store.

"Some thief came in, was bundled up," Calles said. "He had a red bandana, some sunglasses, a grey hoodie on and blue jeans."

The same description as the robber from the Shell store.

"He waited patiently in line and basically told my coworker [to give him] the money in the drawer," Calles said. "After that, he came around waited for me to finish with my customers and then took my drawer as well."

"He waited in both lines and was the most patient robber I've ever seen."

The robber fled on foot. Minutes later, SFPD spotted the truck on Siringo Road and pulled it over.

Behind the wheel was 24-year old Robert Romero. He's now charged with robbery and aggravated assault for the Shell incident. As of Sunday evening, he has not been charged with the robbery at the Allsup's. Dobyns says there's no evidence the man had a gun.

According to online court records, Romero was out on bond after police say he robbed a Walgreen's Pharmacy in early October.

"He's back out within a month and committing the same types of crimes that he was committing before," Dobyns said.

Robbery isn't the only crime on Romero's rap sheet.

According to criminal complaints obtained by News 13, Romero is facing identity theft and forgery charges in Albuquerque. Romero is accused of giving officers another man's name, date of birth and social security when he was pulled over. Romero apparently used the man's information and forged his signature to try and get out of ten different traffic tickets.

Investigators say the crime was discovered when the man tried to renew his driver's license in California, only to be told that he had outstanding warrants in New Mexico.

Romero was out on bond for that case too.