WESLACO — Police here managed to stop a theft in progress at a Stripes convenience store last week, a theft that began as an aggravated robbery call but ended up being an inside job, authorities said at a news conference Thursday.
The case involved a family who allegedly conspired to steal a safe with the help of the store’s clerk, but they were apprehended because their get-away vehicle didn’t start, police said.
Two adults were arrested, but another woman and a juvenile who left the scene on foot have warrants out for their arrest.
Herminia Juanita Cortez, 55, and Ricardo Jaime Rodriguez, 57, were both charged with theft of property and engaging in organized crime. Cortez was also charged with failure to identify.
At about 12:39 a.m. on Aug. 18, Weslaco police received a call about an aggravated robbery at the Stripes located on 725 S. Texas Boulevard.
According to Weslaco Police Chief Joel Rivera, the first responding officer made contact with Cortez and Rodriguez, who were both standing beside a vehicle in the alleyway, and noticed two other individuals walking away from the scene.
The officer notified other officers, but they were unable to apprehend the two individuals. One woman was later identified as 53-year-old Maxine Cortez and the other person was a juvenile.
At the time, 37-year-old Edward Sanchez, the clerk who called police, stepped outside and was surprised to find police with the apprehended individuals.
“Essentially what happened at the Stripes convenience store was an inside job as the clerk … was a part of the criminal activity,” Rivera said. “They had planned to steal the safe and the contents of the safe, move it out and be able to leave.
“They were unprepared for the immediate response of the Weslaco Police Department.”
Initially, Sanchez told police he was forced to help the robbers steal the safe, but officers later determined that Sanchez was part of the robbery.
Rivera also revealed that they believe the thieves were unsuccessful because their vehicle would not start, which is why Sanchez was surprised to find his alleged co-conspirators speaking to police outside.
Though the exact familial ties between the criminals weren’t disclosed, Rivera said some were related and others were simply friends.
Weslaco police are on the lookout for Sanchez, who Rivera says has told police he won’t be turning himself in, and Maxine Cortez on charges of theft of property and engaging in organized crime.
Cortez and Rodriguez remain jailed at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on $40,000 and $30,000 in bonds, respectively.
