Man arrested in Valencia County following bait car activation

Albuquerque Police Department’s Auto Theft Unit arrested Andrew Romero, 38, in Valencia County recently after he allegedly stole a bait car from Downtown Albuquerque.

According to a press release, APD detectives deployed a bait car near Presbyterian Hospital, 1100 Central Ave., in Albuquerque, due to repeat thefts in the area.

At about 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 23, detectives received the bait car activation alert from the location.

Detectives located the vehicle at an address in Los Lunas where it became stationary.

APD Air Support, Bosque Farms and Los Lunas police department and the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist at the residence.

During surveillance of the vehicle, Romero got inside and proceded to leave the residence in the stolen bait vehicle.

Officers with the Bosque Farms PD initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and the driver allegedly began to flee.

APD detectives were able to safely disable the bait car and the vehicle came to a stop at a nearby ditchbank.

Romero was observed through the bait car cameras throwing a firearm outside of the vehicle.

A firearm was located in the ditch by the Bosque Farms drone unit and the firearm was confirmed stolen out of Valencia County.

Romero is charged with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing, conspiracy, receiving and transferring a stolen firearm, tampering with evidence, auto burglary and a felon in possession.

Romero is on active probation, which was revoked and a felony warrant was issued.

Romero was taken into custody and taken back to Albuquerque by APD Auto Theft collateral officers to be booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center.