Couple arrested for shoplifting more than $2,500 from Target over several days

Carolina Guzman-Vasquez, about 29, of Albuquerque, and Juan Aguer-Esparza, about 31, of Albuquerque, were arrested on July 30 for multiple shopliftings they planned and went through with at the Target on Crestview Drive.

According to a criminal complaint filed with the Sandoval County Magistrate Court, the couple shoplifted a total $2,637.08 worth of merchandise from July 18-30.

Officers responded to the store on a shoplifting call and were advised that a male and female were inside the business and were tag-swapping items inside the store. Tag-swapping is when people switch tags on items to pay less for them and is a form of shoplifting.

Arriving officers spotted Guzman-Vazquez and Aguer-Esparza walking through the parking lot and split the two up to talk to them. They noticed noticed Guzman-Vazquez was pushing a cart full of items and her kid. Guzman-Vazquez was recited her Miranda Advisory and agreed to speak with officers.

She had $386.67 worth of items inside her shopping cart, which she said she forgot to scan before leaving the store, passing all points of sale. She also had about five items that were paid for inside the cart that were later released to her mother.

While officers spoke to Aguer-Esparza, admitted to shoplifting the items inside the cart and asked if he could take the charges and if his wife, Guzman-Vasquez, could go free.

Once statements were taken from both suspects, officers spoke with the loss prevention officer (LPO), who told officers that they noticed the couple tag-swapping inside the baby section of the store and requested police assistance.

The LPO also stated that the couple had previously shoplifted on the dates of July 18, July 19, July 20 and July 23. The two were always seen together during the shopliftings and worked together to commit the crimes.

Both Guzman-Vasquez and Aguer-Esparza were charged for all the incidents of shoplifting and conspiracy to shoplift. Due to recent criminal law change, the shopliftings were combined into one aggravated shoplifting incident for the purposes of the court.

The couple could each face three years or more if they are convicted.