“This is a great success story and working as a team,” New Mexico State University Interim Police Chief Justin Dunivan said, crediting Crime Stoppers and Las Cruces community members for their help identifying four juveniles who illegally entered NMSU buildings Dec. 28.
Dunivan said the four male suspects entered several buildings, including the Pan American Center, Aggie Field House, Fulton Center, and Hall of Legends. There, the boys damaged furniture, sporting equipment, and other personal items.
The suspects were caught on surveillance video and left behind three necklaces. As an effort to catch the suspects, the footage was posted online, urging the community to contact Crime Stoppers and/or submit anonymous tips to help identify the suspects.
As a result of the minors causing an estimated $3,000 in damages, the suspects are being charged with three counts of Commercial Burglary, Criminal Damage to Property, Criminal Trespass, and Conspiracy to Commit Non-Residential Burglary, Dunivan said.
During a town hall meeting on Jan. 15, held by the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD), one of the main issues discussed by LCPD was the large rise in crimes committed by juveniles in Las Cruces.
“We are always working with our campus partners in preventing both violent and property crimes,” Dunivan said. “In these cases, our campus surveillance cameras worked very well in identifying the suspects.”
According to the NMSU Police’s 2025 Annual Security Report, which was last updated Oct. 6, 2025, NMSU’s main campus and the DACC’s Espina Campus have reported a total of 102 burglaries on campus property from 2022 to 2024.
Dunivan said the NMSU police department will continue to enhance existing access control and surveillance cameras as well as install new technology to help prevent future property crimes.
During a town hall meeting held by the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD), one of the main issues discussed by LCPD was the large rise in crimes committed by juveniles in Las Cruces.
Dunivan said he and LCPD Chief Jeremy Story work together along with their departments to resolve crime trends happening within the Las Cruces community.
“It is going to take law enforcement working together, us working with our judicial system partners, and working with our community members to make a difference and address this issue from multiple different levels,” Dunivan said.
