Attorney General Hector Balderas
ALBUQUERQUE — A woman who shoplifted while armed with a crossbow has been “preventatively detained,” according to the New Mexico Attorney General’s office.
In a press statement, AG Hector Balderas said that District Court Judge Alisa Hart granted the Attorney General’s motion to preventatively detain the woman, a dangerous serial shoplifter and violent habitual offender named Vanessa Monge.
“Taking violent retail criminals off the street helps protect the safety of New Mexico residents, and my office and our law enforcement partners remain committed to aggressively investigate and prosecute these crimes,” said Balderas.
From Nov. 9, 2021 to Feb. 20, 2022, Monge participated in six separate shoplifting incidents at Albuquerque department stores resulting in losses of nearly $10,000. In one incident, Monge shoplifted while armed with a crossbow.
This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the emerging Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force. The investigation involved the NM Office of the Attorney General and asset protection personnel from the retail community.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Andrew Coffing. Monge is innocent of these allegations until proven guilty.
