Car burglar steals officer's duty weapon and badge

EDINBURG - A handgun, badge and peace officer identification were stolen from the personal vehicle of a Hidalgo County Sheriff's reserve deputy Monday night, Edinburg Police Chief Quirino Muñoz said.

The items were stolen from Reserve Deputy Oberlin Salinas' Chevrolet Suburban, which was parked at the 2200 block of South McColl Road near Cornerstone Fitness, Muñoz said.

Salinas discovered his equipment had been stolen after finishing a workout at the gym and returning to his car in the parking lot.

While Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said the situation was "a big concern" for him, he did not seem all that surprised by the incident.

"It happens more frequently than you can imagine," the sheriff said, noting that stolen credentials are a problem with which many law enforcement agencies deal.

Treviño said he spoke with Salinas after the break-in and learned that the items had been inside the reserve deputy's laptop bag, which was taken from the vehicle.

Treviño said it would have been impractical for Salinas to bring the gun into the gym.

"He did the best that he could under the conditions, and it was stolen," Treviño said.

Treviño said the public should be aware that the items are on the street. He said residents should always take precautions when they are presented with a police badge and ask to see a department-issued photo identification to prove the peace officer's identity.

Nobody had been apprehended in connection with the incident late Monday night, which occurred between 6 and 7:15 p.m., Muñoz said.