Suspect was a Frequent Shopper at the Store
A Robbery Tactical Plan Team made up of APD Violent Crimes Section Detectives arrested Matias Martinez, 27, on Friday night in connection with an armed robbery that occurred on November 11, 2012 at the Family Dollar Store, 7100 San Pedro NE.
Martinez is being held on a $50,000 cash bond at the Metropolitan Detention Center. He is charged with robbery with a deadly weapon.
APD Robbery Detectives say that Martinez was identified by witnesses and the victim as the suspect who robbed the family dollar store and threatening a female employee with a knife. The store was unable to provide APD with a copy of the surveillance video for several days, but posted a still image of the robbery caught surveillance on the store windows. Detectives received a tip generated from those posters which ultimately led to the location and identification of Martinez.
Witnesses told Detectives that on the day of the robbery, Martinez entered the store twice earlier in the day, buying a pack of gum the first time and asking for change for a $50 bill the next. When the female clerk requested a manager’s assistance to give Martinez change for the $50, Martinez stated he could not find it and left. Residents in the area say Martinez frequents both the Family Dollar and the 7-Eleven Stores in the area.
Martinez is from Espanola, NM and has been arrested by Albuquerque Police at least four times in the past. His most recent arrest was in March when he was booked on felony narcotics charges.
