ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A man is facing multiple charges after stealing a bait car deployed by Albuquerque police as part of an ongoing effort to crack down on auto theft.
According to APD, 38-year-old Andrew Romero was arrested Wednesday in Valencia County after taking the bait car from downtown Albuquerque near Presbyterian Hospital. Detectives were alerted to the theft around 6 a.m. and tracked the vehicle to a residence in Los Lunas.
Surveillance video showed Romero getting into the car and attempting to drive away. When Bosque Farms police tried to stop the vehicle, Romero fled. APD officers then remotely disabled the car, which came to a stop near a ditch.
Video footage also captured Romero throwing a firearm from the vehicle. The Bosque Farms drone unit later recovered the weapon, which was confirmed to be stolen out of Valencia County.
Romero was taken into custody and transported back to Albuquerque, where he was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. He is facing several charges, including:
- Unlawful taking of a motor vehicle
- Aggravated fleeing
- Conspiracy
- Receiving and transferring a stolen firearm
- Tampering with evidence
- Auto burglary
- Felon in possession of a firearm
APD says the bait car program continues to be a key tool in targeting repeat auto theft offenders across the metro area.
