Texas Border Business
On Sunday, April 20, 2025, at approximately 7:20 a.m., Edinburg Police responded to the 2400 block of Moonlight Lane in reference to a stolen vehicle. The victim reported that her 2024 black Jeep Gladiator had been stolen from its designated parking space. She became aware of the theft after receiving a call from her sister inquiring about the vehicle’s whereabouts. Upon checking, she realized it was missing. The victim also noted several missed calls from the Progreso Port of Entry and the Pharr Police Department. Using her vehicle’s mobile app, she was able to track the Jeep’s location to the Progreso Port of Entry.
An Edinburg Police officer made contact with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Supervisor, who advised that the Mexican military had alerted them about a Jeep Gladiator that had crossed into Mexico and was believed to be stolen. The vehicle was stopped as it re-entered the United States at approximately 4:55 a.m., and two female occupants were detained.
The suspects were identified as 22-year-old Yadhira Berenice Rodriguez and 18-year-old Ruby Zapata, both of Edinburg. The victim’s vehicle app showed the Jeep was started at 2:55 a.m. and crossed into Mexico at 4:08 a.m. before being intercepted upon its return.
Edinburg Police provided the victim with a courtesy transport to the Port of Entry, where she recovered her vehicle. Rodriguez and Zapata were placed under arrest and transported to the Edinburg Police Department. Both now face charges of Auto Theft.
This case was solved swiftly through collaboration between Edinburg Police Investigators and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Combined Auto Theft Task Force.
“We’re incredibly thankful to our partners at the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Combined Auto Theft Task Force for their outstanding collaboration on this case,” said Edinburg Police Chief Jaime Ayala. “Because of their teamwork and quick communication with federal agencies, we were able to recover the stolen vehicle and take two suspects into custody within hours.”
