Three arrested after alleged Albuquerque auto dealership heist

Three people were arrested on Thursday after an alleged commercial burglary and vehicle theft at an auto dealership in Southeast Albuquerque. 

Rodriguez Mackall, 48, Kalvin Harvey, 38, and Stephone Yarbrough, 37, are charged with receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle and conspiracy. Mackall was also charged with one count of possession of methamphetamines and receiving and transferring stolen property. Harvey has since been released from jail.

Albuquerque police were dispatched Thursday around 4 a.m. after receiving a call that seven vehicles were stolen from an auto dealership located at 300 Wyoming SE, according to a news release from Rebecca Atkins, spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department.

“Investigators learned through their investigation that the suspects rammed the entrance gate, forced entry into the business, and stole approximately 40 key fobs to vehicles and approximately 80 vehicle titles,” Atkins said.

Police searched the area and found three of the vehicles, including a stolen trailer, a Toyota 4Runner and a Chevrolet Malibu, at a home in the 500 block of Pennsylvania, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. 

Officers surveilled the area for two hours and watched the three suspects load the stolen Malibu onto the stolen trailer, which was being pulled by the stolen 4Runner, the complaint states.

“APD Air Support and additional units responded as that vehicle began moving,” Atkins. 

Police used a spike strip to slow the vehicle down near Wyoming and Central and Mackall, Harvey and Yarbrough were arrested. The stolen key fobs and vehicles were returned to the dealership, according to the complaint. 

Officers spoke with Mackall, who said he was given the titles to the vehicles from a friend, the complaint states. He told police that someone had paid him to transport the vehicles but said he did not know where the location was other than that it was near Marquette. 

Later, officers spoke with Mackall again and he said the vehicles were not his but he did not touch any of the titles or keys inside one of the vehicles. Police searched Mackall and found a bag of methamphetamines, along with a key to a Mercedes.

Police spoke with Yarbrough, who said his uncle — Mackall — had asked him earlier in the day to help move one of the vehicles, according to the complaint. He also told police he and Mackall were homeless.

“He said he believed the trailer and Toyota belonged to Rodriguez (Mackall) to his knowledge,” the complaint states. 

Shortly after, officers spoke with Harvey, who said he “figured the vehicle was stolen because it did not have a license plate, keys and the fact that they pushed it onto a trailer for Rodriguez (Mackall),” according to the complaint. 

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.