A joint operation involving the Taos County Sheriff’s Office, the Questa Police Department, the Costilla County Sheriff’s Office, the Blanca Police Department, and the Colorado State Patrol Auto Theft Unit led to the arrest of Abundo Martinez near the New Mexico-Colorado border.

“Abundo Martinez was taken into custody by Costilla County Sheriff deputies on February 27, 2024 in San Luis and booked into the Costilla County jail on the following charges: felony theft, possession of removed, defaced, altered, or destroyed motor vehicle identification numbers, and defacing a firearm,” a Costilla County Sheriff’s office press release stated.

Questa del Rio News reached out to the Costilla County sheriff’s office as well as the Colorado State Patrol, but they were not able to give much information, as it is an open case.

“I was able to speak with the sheriff’s office and unfortunately they are not able to release additional info at this time,” said Cale Gould with the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA). “They were able to share what the release stated, that they are in the process of identifying all the stolen equipment and vehicles and returning them to their owners in due process with the investigation. They have returned several of the vehicles.”