A judge ordered pretrial detention for Angel Martín after he allegedly robbed an OXXO convenience store at gunpoint in Ensenada’s Colinas de San Ángel neighborhood on March 26. The suspect reportedly threatened employees with a firearm, stole cash and merchandise, then fled the scene on a motorcycle.
Authorities arrested Angel Martín on an outstanding warrant through a joint operation between the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI, Baja California’s State Investigation Agency) and an apprehension unit. The pretrial detention order means he will remain in custody while the case moves through the courts.
Suspect Linked to Other Robberies
Prosecutors are investigating whether Angel Martín was involved in additional robberies with a similar pattern. Authorities did not specify how many other cases are under review or which locations may have been targeted. The armed robbery charge alone, classified as “robo con violencia” under Mexican law, carries significant prison time if he is convicted.
OXXO stores, operated by the Monterrey-based conglomerate FEMSA, are the most common convenience stores in Mexico. There are dozens of locations across Ensenada, many open 24 hours, which makes them frequent targets for armed robbery. A separate incident in November 2025 saw another armed robbery suspect detained at an OXXO in Ensenada’s Ampliación Centro neighborhood, according to El Imparcial.
Convenience Store Crime Remains a Concern
Armed robberies of OXXO stores have been a recurring problem across Mexico. In Oaxaca, one suspect was arrested in 2022 after allegedly hitting 92 OXXO locations over two years. In the border city of Nuevo Laredo, FEMSA temporarily closed all 191 OXXO stores and seven gas stations in 2024 due to cartel extortion.
Colinas de San Ángel sits in the eastern hills of Ensenada, a residential area south of the downtown core. The neighborhood is several miles from the tourist corridor along Avenida López Mateos and the waterfront, but OXXO stores throughout the city serve both locals and visitors at all hours.
The arrest and formal charges mark a step in Ensenada’s efforts to prosecute convenience store robberies rather than letting them go uninvestigated. Angel Martín awaits trial from jail.
This story was first reported by Ensenada.Net.