Albuquerque police officer accused of shoplifting from Target

An officer with the Albuquerque Police Department allegedly shoplifted more than $150 from Target stores by putting price tags from cheaper items onto more expensive merchandise at the checkout.

Vanessa Santillanes, 31, is charged with four counts of shoplifting under $250, a petty misdemeanor. The alleged thefts happened between April and December.

The city of Albuquerque’s website shows Santillanes is a senior police officer making $35 an hour. She has earned more than $90,000 so far this year.

It is unclear if Santillanes has an attorney.

Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque police spokesman, said Santillanes was on paid administrative leave and Internal Affairs was investigating the allegations.

He said Santillanes joined APD in 2015 and is currently a detective with the Investigations Bureau.

Officials with the Albuquerque Police Department have said tackling shoplifting and retail crime is a top priority, conducting operations such as “Sticky Fingers” to round up offenders.

The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office took over the case after the thefts were brought to the attention of APD.

On Nov. 28, Albuquerque police were called to Target on Coors NW, near Eagle Ranch, over several shoplifting incidents.

When an employee showed police video of the suspect, an officer “immediately” recognized it as Santillanes, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. The employee told police the woman had been “ticket switching” — putting price tags from cheaper items onto more expensive ones in the self-checkout — over the past several months.

Police said the employee told them the first incident was on April 17 at the Target on Coors when Santillanes scanned a barcode for 50-cent plastic cups for $65 worth of beauty products.

The employee told police Santillanes “ticket switched” on April 30, June 17 and Nov. 25 at local Target stores, shoplifting $159 worth of products in total, according to the complaint. Each incident was caught on security camera video and, during one theft, Santillanes was driving her APD take-home vehicle.

Agents with the Attorney General’s Office interviewed Santillanes on Dec. 5. The agents told Santillanes she was the suspect in “ticket switching” incidents at Target.

“She immediately seemed surprised and concerned,” according to the complaint. The agents showed Santillanes photos of herself during the alleged thefts and she “verbally confirmed” it was her.

During the investigation, a Target employee asked APD what their policy was for take-home vehicles, after Santillanes allegedly used hers while shoplifting.

The APD commander responded, according to the complaint, that the policy states officers “be permitted to use their take-home vehicle for unofficial business.”