Two People Rob 75-year-old Woman at Knifepoint

POSTED: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - 2:24pm
UPDATED: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - 10:40am
LAS CRUCES- Police arrested a couple suspected of committing an armed robbery of a 75-year-old woman and going on a shopping spree using the victim’s bank cards.
Police say the two suspects demanded the victim’s wallet at knifepoint then went on a shopping spree.
Gabriel Andrew Valdez, 24, and Ashley L. Morris, 25, are charged with one count each of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit an armed robbery. Then Morris went to a local Walmart and purchased more than $800 in electronics. Then, Morris went to a nearby ATM and withdrew $1,100.
Police learned that the suspects had easy access to the victim’s bank account because her personal identification number, or PIN, was written on a piece of paper that was attached to the stolen ATM card.
The suspects were located at the Las Cruces Target store and arrested.
Valdez is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash-only bond while Morris is being held on a $15,000 bond.


