Police probe pair of armed home hold-ups

Portales police believe armed home invasions within a block of each other Friday and Sunday are related, according to Portales Police Capt. Lonnie Berry.

Berry said the method of entry was identical and the descriptions of the suspects are similar. He said the homes targeted appeared to be random.

Berry declined to give suspect descriptions and would not say how entry was made into the victims’ residences.

Two males in their 20s were injured Sunday night during a home invasion in the 1500 block of South Globe, according to Berry.

Five subjects entered the home at 11 p.m. and two of the residents were struck in the head with a handgun, Berry said.

“The residents were treated at the scene by our local EMS crew,” Berry said. “They later took a personal vehicle to Roosevelt General Hospital.”

A vehicle stolen from the residence was later recovered on the air base highway (N.M. 467), Berry said. It appeared the vehicle was involved in an accident.

“We have the vehicle and it is being processed by our investigators,” Berry said.

Cash was reported to have been taken from the residence, Berry said.

The Friday incident occurred at 11 p.m. at a residence in the 1200 block of Libra Drive, Berry said.

Three subjects entered and stole a vehicle from the resident.

“Nobody was hurt in this robbery, but like the second robbery, a vehicle was stolen from the residence,” Berry said. “The vehicle was recovered Saturday in Clovis.”

Residents reported that cash and jewelry were taken from the residence, Berry said.

Berry said Portales Police are collaborating with Curry County and Clovis law enforcement but would not confirm if there is a connection to two similar recent home invasions in Curry County.

The Curry County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a home invasion July 21 on Curry Road 6 involving three male victims in their late teens and early 20s. One of the victims was struck in the head with a firearm and a vehicle was taken from that residence.

A Clovis home on Sheldon Street was invaded early Friday morning and two vehicles taken from the victims, police have said.

Curry County sheriff’s officials could not be reached for comment. Clovis police and district attorney’s office officials declined comment Monday, citing an ongoing investigation.