06/05/2026
NEWS RELEASE
Ace Hardware Store Commercial Burglary Arrests
June 5, 2026
On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at approximately 2:50 a.m., officers with the Alamogordo Police Department responded to a burglary alarm at ACE Hardware, located at 412 E. 9th Street.
Upon arrival, officers observed signs of forced entry into the business. After conducting a security sweep of the premises, officers discovered that several fi****ms appeared to have been stolen. A representative of the business responded to the scene and confirmed that multiple fi****ms were missing.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and developed descriptions of the suspects involved. Officers canvassed the surrounding area but were unable to locate any suspects. The Alamogordo Police Department Criminal Investigations Division was notified and assumed responsibility for the investigation.
Through investigative efforts, detectives identified a suspect vehicle and two male suspects believed to be involved in the burglary. On June 3, 2026, detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at a residence in the 2300 block of Union Avenue. Evidence recovered during the search corroborated information developed during the investigation and resulted in the arrests of a 15-year-old male and 18-year-old Ignacio Lopez, both residents of Alamogordo.
The juvenile was charged with:
• 1 count of Aggravated Burglary (Armed After Entering), a Second-Degree Felony;
• 7 counts of Larceny of a Firearm, Third-Degree Felonies;
• 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Burglary, a Third-Degree Felony;
• 7 counts of Disposing of a Stolen Firearm, Fourth-Degree Felonies; and
• 1 count of Unlawful Possession of a Handgun by a Person Under Nineteen Years of Age, a Misdemeanor.
The juvenile was remanded to a juvenile detention facility pending proceedings in District Court.
Ignacio Lopez was charged with:
• 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Burglary, a Third-Degree Felony;
• 7 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Larceny of a Firearm, Fourth-Degree Felonies; and
• 1 count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, a Fourth-Degree Felony.
Lopez was booked into the Otero County Detention Center and is being held pending his appearance in Magistrate Court.
On Friday, June 5, 2026, detectives recovered six of the stolen fi****ms.
This investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Alamogordo Police Department Criminal Investigations Division or submit information anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Otero County.
