Three El Paso men were arrested in connection with the theft of 20 vehicles from a local car rental business on December 2, 2023. Aaron Banda, 25, David Saenz, 43, and Edward William Duckworth, 29, face multiple charges after officers discovered the theft of vehicles valued at approximately $675,000 from the business located at 7214 North Mesa Street.
Banda and Saenz are charged with two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Banda also faces a possession of a controlled substance charge, while Saenz has an additional charge of theft of property with two previous convictions. Duckworth faces two counts of theft of property.
Police responded to a burglary call between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on December 2, finding that 20 vehicles had been stolen. Officers from the Auto Theft Task Force quickly located 10 of the stolen vehicles within hours. Banda and Saenz were arrested the next day, and Duckworth was later identified as being in possession of some of the stolen vehicles.
The investigation also led to the identification of two additional suspects in Juárez, Mexico. The suspects, a 33-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man, were apprehended by Mexican authorities.
As of December 13, 15 of the stolen vehicles had been recovered, including a variety of models such as 2024 Ford Edge, 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. Five vehicles remain unaccounted for, including two Nissan Altimas and a Toyota Camry.
The suspects were booked in the El Paso County Jail, where they remain as of Friday, with bonds set at $16,500 for Banda, $50,000 for Saenz, and $20,000 for Duckworth. Police are still asking for information on the missing vehicles and encourage the public to contact Crime Stoppers of El Paso.