Albuquerque police arrest man for multiple burglaries

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Albuquerque police have arrested a man wanted for multiple burglaries in Northeast Heights.

According to court documents, Dorsett Matthews, 42, was on probation for a previous burglary when he was arrested for these break-ins. Police say he became violent when he didn’t get what he wanted.

KOB 4 went to a Northeast Heights neighborhood where several neighbors called 911 in June because a large man was breaking into homes and demanding money.

In one case, the suspect, later identified as Matthews, is said to have smashed a glass door with garden shears and stolen a handbag from the kitchen table – stealing cash, keys and credit cards.

A few days later, a woman caught Matthews rummaging through her garage. When she asked him what he was doing, he chased her into the house, pushed her husband to the ground and demanded cash, police say.

“He pushed me down and it was like I was nothing,” the man told KOB 4. “I was in the hallway and I fell on my back and now I’m at a point where I can’t get up on my own.”

Police say Matthews left the house after the couple gave him $150. Using surveillance footage from a neighbor’s home, police were able to identify and track down Matthews’ car. He was arrested this week on burglary charges, but additional charges are pending.

Matthews made his first court appearance Friday. The state has requested that he be held in custody. A district judge will later decide whether to keep him behind bars.