Burglar caught at Grants greenhouse

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — A local man was arrested in the act of attempting to burglarize the now empty tomato greenhouse on George Hanosh Boulevard, near the golf course.

Robert Allen, 26, of 1438 Elkins Road, Milan, faces several felony and petty misdemeanor charges in connection to the incident. He is charged in connection with: Two counts of commercial burglary, breaking an entering and criminal damage to property, all felonies; larceny, under $250,000, and receiving stolen property, both petty misdemeanors.
He faces a pretrial hearing on Tuesday in Cibola County Magistrate Court.

If he is prosecuted and convicted of all charges, Allen could serve at least 4 1/2 years in state prison, a fine of at least $15,000, or both.

Grants Police Lt. Corey Allen was called to the greenhouse about 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 7, where he met with a repairman who told Allen he heard noises from inside the building, which is vacant and not supposed to have anyone inside, according to Magistrate Court records.

Allen entered the building and observed Robert Allen walking toward the back of the building carrying a large yellow bolt cutter. He was trying to cut some copper wiring. The lieutenant and Officer Jesse Nieto pulled their weapons and ordered Allen to drop the bolt cutter. He was immediately arrested, court records state.

Allen told police he had cut a hole in the side of the building and was attempting to steal copper wiring, court records state. Copper has increased in price dramatically in the past few years.

Allen confessed to taking 35 pounds of copper wiring to the Grants Recycling Center, where he was paid $1 per pound.

Grants Police Detective Kevin Dobbs confirmed the story by finding a receipt with Allen’s name and identifying him through a green duffel bag with the wiring, court records state.

Grants Police Sgt. John Castaneda said copper thefts are on the rise. He was not able to say how much, due to not having statistics at hand, but knew the thefts are rising through his investigative work.

“Some burglars are going to old, vacant buildings and stealing the copper wiring, anything that is copper, for the money,” Castaneda said.

Robert Allen was ordered by Magistrate Court Judge Manuel Lujan to undergo random urinalysis testing and drug screening, both while in custody at the Cibola County Detention Center, where his bond is $50,000 cash surety, requiring $5,000 in order to be released and when he is free on bond as well.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 285-4560 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.