Shoplifters bail, lead high-speed chase

PORTALES, N.M. (KRQE) - A trip to Walmart turned into a high-speed chase in eastern New Mexico.

The shoppers decided not to pay for thousands of dollars of items and run from several officers, according to police.

Some of the thieves even jumped out of a moving truck to try and get away.

Portales and New Mexico State Police caught up to the suspected shoplifters early Wednesday morning.

As the truck loaded with stolen goods pulled over, it appeared like the suspects were going to stop. But dash-camera video shows as soon as the officers walk towards the truck, it sped off.

"A traffic stop is one of the most dangerous situations an officer can be involved in, and then when you heighten that by fleeing suspects, that just makes it that much worse," Portales Police Department Lt. Mark Cage said.

Cage said the suspects went through a fire exit and loaded up two shopping carts full of nearly 100 items from Walmart in Portales. They couldn't even fit all of it into their pickup truck and left some of it behind in the parking lot.

"There was a TV, a computer, women's toiletry items, men's toiletry items, clothing, candy bars, you name it," Cage said.  "They were on a shopping spree."

The suspects tried to outrun the police reaching speeds up to 100 mph on U.S. Highway 70, which is posted at 65 mph zone. The pursuit continued as the suspects headed toward Clovis.

"There was very little traffic, and that has a lot to do with why the pursuit continued," Cage explained.

State Police followed the suspects into Clovis winding through residential streets until finally, they hit a dead end.

"People bailed out of the moving vehicle and took off running, and there was a foot pursuit," said Cage. State Police officers attempted to locate the suspects, but police believe two of them got away.

The driver, Vientiane Vongsaphay, 32, and Tina Marez, 20, were arrested.

"We're just glad it turned out alright, officers were safe, no one was injured in the pursuit," said Cage.

Vongsaphay is charged with third-degree felony shoplifting, aggravated fleeing and driving on a suspended license. Marez is charged with shoplifting and possession of methamphetamine, which police said she attempted to discard in a State Police unit.  
    
Along with stolen loot, police found methamphetamine and bath salts. Nearly $3,000 worth of stolen items were returned.  

Police will use surveillance video to try to identify the other suspects who jumped out of the moving truck. Anyone with information on the suspects can call Portales police or Crime Stoppers.