MURFREESBORO, TN (June 12, 2025) – In a coordinated operation, the Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) and Lebanon Police Department (LPD) dismantled a retail theft ring, arresting four suspects and issuing a warrant for a fifth believed to be involved in multiple felony thefts across Murfreesboro.
Laura Natalia Alvarado-Martinez (48), Rogelio Arpero-Murillo (32), Oscar Balderas (36), and Edson Odin Ponce-Cotero (37) were apprehended on June 11 in Lebanon. A fifth suspect, Caleb Abraham Ponce-Cotero (21), is still being sought by authorities.
The group is accused of stealing large quantities of clothing using anti-theft disabling devices during incidents at Burlington Coat Factory and TJMaxx on June 5. They are also suspected in earlier thefts, including a felony incident at Burlington on April 24, with more charges possible following another incident on June 9.
MPD’s Real Time Crime Center flagged two suspect vehicles via License Plate Reader (LPR) technology. An alert led officers to issue a bulletin and notify LPD, who successfully located and arrested the four suspects.
Bond amounts and charges are as follows:
Laura Alvarado-Martinez – Two felony theft counts, $17,000 bond
Rogelio Arpero-Murillo – Two felony theft counts, $23,000 bond
Edson Ponce-Cotero – One felony theft count, $18,000 bond
Oscar Balderas – One felony theft count, $20,000 bond
All four are being held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center and are scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on July 14.
