Man summoned for numerous crimes in Bernalillo vehicle theft

An Albuquerque man is wanted for several crimes tied to a vehicle theft in Bernalillo.

Nicholas Roach, 35, of Albuquerque, as of May 1 has a warrant out for his arrest for two counts of receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle (third offense), automobile burglary, possession of burglary tools, altering or changing engine or other numbers, identity theft, injuring or tampering with a motor vehicle, making a false report, obstructing an officer and three counts of receiving stolen property at a residence in Bernalillo.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the victim called to report a stolen vehicle and stolen equipment out of Bernalillo. A tracker on the vehicle pinged to the 300 block of East Avenida. Everything was reported stolen through the Albuquerque Police Department.

While police were talking to the callers, they heard movement coming from the side of the property and searched the residence. They saw a man on a ladder hanging up a black tarp and a small fire in the corner of the room. The man got off of the ladder then went behind the tarp and toward the back side of the residence. People began to exit the home, and police checked the residence for other occupants.

Seven more individuals exited, including Roach, who provided a false name and date of birth. Underneath the black tarp, police found a dismantled Hummer without a license plate. It was covered with a tarp. It had no doors, missing seats, missing wheels and missing electrical components from the cab, and the VIN came back as the stolen vehicle.

Roach told police he was just visiting and was dropped off by a friend. When police asked if the if the vehicle and equipment were his, Roach hesitated before responding "no," saying he was helping someone work on it but was not allowed to say who he was helping. Police asked if he was the only one working on the vehicle. Roach said he was at that point and had taken some parts off of it.

They also asked if the camper outside belonged to anyone. Roach said it was "the same situation" as the vehicle. He said he had used the camper at least three times and that he'd only been at the residence for three days.

Another individual told police that Roach was the one who put up the tarp that police saw outside. The victim was able to identify the vehicle, trailer and tools as his. When police searched the rest of the property, they found additional stolen vehicles, including a boat.

Police questioned Roach again, who continued to lie about his name and age. He doubled down on the story he told them earlier.

On April 11, Roach texted one of the detectives and admitted that he lied about his identity. He said he stole the truck from a hotel on San Antonio along the freeway, the camper at Eubank and Montgomery, and the Hummer from the Marriot on Louisiana.

On April 13, Sandoval County Dispatch was notified that Roach was trying to sell the stolen trailer and other stolen items, and a warrant was issued.

If arrested and convicted, Roach could face as much as 30 years in prison.