Amor Montoya, 34, of Bernalillo, was summoned for shoplifting, conspiracy to shoplift and aggravated fleeing law enforcement, and Renee Montoya, about 51, also of Bernalillo, was summoned for shoplifting and conspiracy to shoplift earlier this month.
Around 1:30 p.m. Sept. 10, a Target loss prevention worker reported potential shoplifters in the store, saying one of the suspects exited the store with a shopping cart full of store merchandise and brought it to a blue 2016 Hyundai Elantra registered to a woman in Bernalillo. The second suspect exited, without any merchandise, shortly after and went to the Elantra. The suspects then headed west on Crestview Drive.
Loss prevention told officers that around 1:15 p.m. Renee Montoya had entered the store and started to walk around, filling a cart with merchandise. About three minutes later, Amor Montoya followed suit.
Once at the front of the store, Amor took her shopping cart to a self-checkout register and started to act like she was checking out the items in her cart. As Amor did this, Renee was standing near the entrance. As Amor was acting like she was checking out, she drew the attention of the security guard at the front entrance as well as other staff nearby. As Amor was talking with the security guard and other staff, Renee pushed her shopping cart out the front of the store.
Once Renee was out of the store, Amor told the staff she was not going to purchase anything and left the store, leaving her shopping cart behind.
Loss prevention estimated the total value of stolen merchandise was between $500-$2,500.
As officers arrived at Target, a corporal located the Elantra near Broadmoor and County Club Drive. He attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle failed to yield and fled from police in a dangerous and reckless manner.
The registered owner of the vehicle involved was not one of the suspects but is related to Amor and Renee.
Both Amor and Renee could face more than five years if found guilty.