Edinburg police arrest burglary suspect after safe found in parking lot

Staff Report

Edinburg, TX – Edinburg police have arrested a suspect in connection with a smoke shop burglary after officers recovered a stolen safe and other items hours before the crime was reported.

An open safe in the parking lot

Officers responded shortly before dawn Jan. 26 to the 900 block of South Veterans Boulevard after a caller reported an open safe in a parking lot. Police recovered the safe along with a black ski mask, keys and an Apple AirTag, according to investigators.

Later that day, around noon, the owner of a smoke shop in the 1900 block of West University Drive reported a burglary that occurred about 4:15 a.m. Two men were seen stealing a safe containing nearly $4,000, the owner told police. No signs of forced entry were found, and the owner said the suspects were believed to be former employees.

Suspect IDed

Investigators identified one of the suspects as 20-year-old Arod Lopez-Uresti of Elsa. The owner confirmed Lopez-Uresti had previously worked at the business, police said.

On Feb. 3, investigators arrested Lopez-Uresti during a traffic stop in Elsa. A search warrant executed at his residence led to the recovery of evidence connected to the burglary, according to police.

Lopez-Uresti is expected to be charged with burglary of a building, a state jail felony. The investigation remains ongoing, and police are continuing to search for a second suspect.

Source — Edinburg Police Department.