On Friday, May 29, 2015, at approximately 10:30 pm, Hobbs Police Officers responded to the Dollar General located at 500 E. Bender in reference to an armed robbery that had just occurred. Through the investigation it was learned that two masked subjects, wearing all black and gloves, arrived at the store at closing time. One of them had a pistol and forced an employee to open the safe. One of the suspects then retrieved approximately $3,000.00 in cash and both subjects fled the store in a silver Dodge pick-up westbound on Bender.
Investigators learned that one of the Dollar General employees, 27 year old Nuvia Valenzuela of Hobbs, was dating 26 year old Anthony Quiroz of Hobbs. On prior occasions, she had been seen being picked up from work in a silver Dodge pick-up driven by Quiroz, similar to the one used in the robbery. Valenzuela ultimately admitted to being involved in the robbery, along with Quiroz.
On Monday June 1, 2015, Valenzuela was arrested for an outstanding warrant, charging her with the offense of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery (3rd degree Felony). She is currently being held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
An outstanding arrest warrant has been issued for Anthony Quiroz charging him with Robbery (2nd Degree Felony), Conspiracy to Commit: Robbery (3rd Degree Felony), and Felon in Possession of a Firearm (4th Degree Felony). Quiroz has not been located at this time.
The second masked suspect has yet to be positively identified.
If you have any information regarding this incident or the whereabouts of Anthony Quiroz, please contact the Hobbs Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 575-397-9275 or Lea County Crime Stoppers at (575) 393-8005.
(Press release from Hobbs Police)
