New Mexico
Albuquerque man accused in $50K school A/C theft, history of similar crimes
An Albuquerque man is accused of stealing wiring from a school’s air conditioning unit, leading to at least $50,000 in damages.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – An Albuquerque man is accused of stealing wiring from a school’s air conditioning unit, leading to at least $50,000 in damages.
But court records show he’s been arrested for similar crimes in recent months and hasn’t faced consequences.
Tyler Hammond, 43, is wanted by Albuquerque police after allegedly stealing key components from an A/C unit at Alice King Community School, a K-8 charter school in northeast Albuquerque, on March 9.
A police report indicates the school was informed by inspectors that the unit couldn’t be repaired and therefore had to be replaced at a cost of $50,000 minimum.
Hammond was reportedly caught on surveillance video two days before the alleged crime scoping out the area.
A search of his criminal history in New Mexico reveals dozens of similar cases over the last two decades, including several in the past few months.
However, three recent burglary/larceny cases in 2025 didn’t lead to Hammond facing consequences; instead ending with prosecutors filing a nolle prosequi, meaning they did not want to or were not able to continue pursuing the case.
Many times, prosecutors file a nolle prosequi when a witness, often a police officer, fails to show up to a court hearing. Court documents indicate that is what happened in at least two of those three recent cases.
The most recent of those cases came in Dec. of 2025 after police arrested Hammond for allegedly stealing wiring from a streetlight near the campus of the University of New Mexico.
There was a similar case in August 2025 in which Hammond was reportedly found by police with drills and pipe cutters after going onto the roof of Coronado Mall.
And police say he targeted another school the month before that. In July of last year, police were called to Eldorado High School after an unknown man was spotted walking around the campus with a cart. They say it turned out to be Hammond, who then informed police he had just swallowed fentanyl.
Police searched through his belongings and found items “consistent with burglary tools,” but that case did not lead to Hammond being prosecuted either.
Hammond is also facing a felony conspiracy to commit shoplifting charge and is due in court on that case on March 30.
Josh’s Saturday Night Forecast
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Calmer weather has moved back into the state this afternoon. Temperatures are slightly warmer across northwestern New Mexico, while southeastern areas are cooler thanks to the backdoor cold fronts that moved in on Friday. Breezier winds will return Sunday and will help kick off a warming trend across the state, along with an elevated fire threat in eastern New Mexico.
Warmer weather will continue building in across the state throughout the upcoming week. A few isolated rain chances will return Monday in parts of New Mexico, but some of that rain may evaporate before reaching the ground.
Good morning!
Heading out the door this morning? Bundle up! Cold air has settled into the Land of Enchantment after two cold fronts passed through New Mexico within the last 24 hours. Temperatures have fallen to the teens, 20s and 30s throughout northern New Mexico. The metro area is just as cold with Moriarty falling to the teens and several other cities bottoming out near the freezing point. The National Weather Service (NWS) has Freeze Warnings in place until 9 a.m. for several locations in northern and central New Mexico. However, one of the aforementioned cold fronts is still moving through eastern New Mexico this morning. That back door cold front has brought 30-45 mph wind gusts, or more, in southeastern New Mexico. The front will push west further west this morning bringing breezy winds to far south and southwestern New Mexico this afternoon. Otherwise, much calmer weather will be on tap for the state compared to the majority of this week.
The colder air this morning will bring cooler and seasonable weather to the Land of Enchantment later on Saturday. Afternoon highs will range from the high 50s, in sections of the northern mountains, to the 70s in southern New Mexico. Throughout the weekend into early next week a warming trend is expected as a ridge of high pressure builds on Sunday, which is forecasted to last through at least Tuesday. By next Tuesday, high temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees above normal, and even warmer for some locations by next Wednesday with breezy conditions returning to the state.
Moisture does stream back into the state early next week across New Mexico. Tomorrow’s forecast is expected to have cloud coverage increase with warmer weather. On Monday sufficient moisture in the mid to upper levels of the atmosphere will bring the chance for showers; however, moisture levels toward the surface will be lower. That will also bring the chance for dry showers and thunderstorms throughout the state. Have a great weekend and stay warm this morning!
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A New Mexico man has taken a plea deal for his role in the death of a three-year-old girl more than two years ago. Police said that Kerri Santos brought her toddler to University of New Mexico Hospital, claiming that she fell and hurt herself. Medical staff determined the child was already dead when she arrived, and noticed signs of abuse, including evidence that she had been tied up. Police said that Santos and three others were staying at James Welch’s home when the abuse took place.
On Friday, Welch pleaded no contest to three counts of child abuse and tampering with evidence. He faces up to five years behind bars.
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