A nighttime security guard was detained in Mexico City’s Anzures neighborhood after allegedly stealing over MXN 330,000 from a car dealership’s safe. Here’s how police unraveled the case.
In the early hours of Monday, May 12, 2025, Mexico City police apprehended a 39-year-old security guard suspected of absconding with MXN 330,120 in cash from the safe of a new-car dealership in the Anzures neighborhood of Miguel Hidalgo borough. The guard, employed by a private security firm, was taken into custody following a tip-off from an alarm company that detected unauthorized safe access at 2:45 AM.
According to an SSC nightly-shift report, uniformed officers arrived at the dealership within ten minutes of the alarm, finding the main vault door pried open and a leather duffel bag containing stacks of peso bills. A review of surveillance footage showed the guard using master-key credentials to enter the secure area, then loading the money into his backpack before attempting to exit.
When confronted, the suspect initially denied wrongdoing but was detained after police discovered a pry bar and bolt-cutting tools in his belongings, consistent with damage to the vault’s hinge mechanism. The SSC’s forensic unit also collected fingerprints matching those on the safe’s handle and tools.
The dealership’s manager, present for an early-morning test drive, provided the keycard logs showing that only the guard had accessed the office area between 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM—a window during which the theft occurred. “The guard’s shift ended at midnight,” the manager said. “He returned an hour later with no authorization.”
Under Article 367 of Mexico’s Federal Penal Code—covering theft from a corporate establishment—if convicted, the suspect faces 3–7 years’ imprisonment and fines up to twice the stolen amount. SSC prosecutors indicated they will seek pretrial detention, citing flight risk.
Local residents expressed shock. “He was always polite when I saw him patrolling our street,” said neighbor Luis Molina. “I never expected he’d turn on the business he was sworn to protect.” Meanwhile, other security firms are auditing their roster of overnight guards, tightening background checks, and reviewing CCTV integration protocols.
This incident highlights vulnerabilities in private-security oversight. Experts recommend dual-control locks—requiring two separate keyholders for vault access—and tamper-evident seals on safes to deter insider theft. “When one person holds both keys and knows patrol routes, opportunities for theft spike,” said security consultant Isabel Cruz.
The stolen cash has been fully recovered and returned to the dealership, thanks to a quick tip by a nearby shopkeeper who noticed the suspect’s hurried departure and alerted authorities by phone. The guard remains in custody at the Miguel Hidalgo precinct pending arraignment.
