Man charged with allegedly robbing jewelry store during Ruidoso wildfire

As Ruidoso was struck by a wildfire that burned thousands of acres of land, a man was busy at an area jewelry store, allegedly robbing the business of merchandise worth more than $20,000, New Mexico State Police said. 

Uziah Alaniz, 25, is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of burglary tools, larceny over $20,000, tampering with evidence and criminal damage to property. He was charged Dec. 29.

In June 2024, New Mexico State Police assisted with evacuations, roadblocks and other public safety duties in response to the Ruidoso wildfires that ravaged the city.

While in Ruidoso, officers learned that Johnston Jewelry, southeast of the village, was being burglarized, said State Police spokesperson Wilson Silver in a news release Tuesday. 

"The business exhibited clear signs of forced entry, including a broken window and damaged display cases," Silver said. 

Officers went inside the business and found a hammer that had been used to break the store's window and display cases, along with blood throughout the store. State Police collected DNA samples and sent them in to be analyzed and "a hit was confirmed, identifying the suspect as Alaniz," according to the release. 

Police learned that Alaniz was in jail at the Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Clayton on unrelated charges — two counts each of aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer and trafficking a controlled substance and one count of child abuse. 

On Oct. 30, a search warrant was issued to collect a DNA sample from Alaniz, the release states. The samples were submitted to an FBI lab and on Dec. 29, the agency confirmed a positive DNA match that connected Alaniz to the burglary. 

"This outcome provides a measure of accountability and restitution to victims who were taken advantage of during a major catastrophic event, and reinforces our commitment to public safety and justice, even under the most challenging circumstances," Silver said.