A judge in Ensenada ordered pretrial detention for a man accused of robbing an OXXO convenience store at knifepoint in Colonia Bronce on March 24. The suspect, identified only as Heber “N” under Mexican privacy law, allegedly entered the store with a juvenile accomplice, threatened employees with a knife, and fled with merchandise and cash.
Charges Include Corruption of a Minor
Prosecutors from the Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE), Baja California’s state attorney general’s office, presented enough evidence for a judge to impose formal pretrial detention. Heber “N” faces two charges: aggravated robbery of a commercial establishment and corruption of a minor.
The corruption charge stems from the alleged involvement of a juvenile co-defendant in the robbery. Under Mexican federal law, adults who recruit or use minors in the commission of a crime face separate penalties. The juvenile’s case will be handled through the adolescent justice system.
OXXO Robberies a Recurring Problem
Convenience store holdups are a persistent issue across Ensenada. A separate OXXO robbery case from April 20 also resulted in pretrial detention for a different suspect, according to Ensenada.Net. In November 2025, Ensenada municipal police responded to a violent OXXO robbery in the Ampliación Centro neighborhood, where officers from the DSPM (Dirección de Seguridad Pública Municipal) acted on a tip from the city’s C5 surveillance center.
OXXO operates more than 20,000 stores across Mexico, making it the country’s largest convenience chain. The stores are open long hours and handle cash transactions, which makes them frequent targets for armed robbery. Colonia Bronce sits in a residential area east of Ensenada’s downtown core.
What Comes Next in the Case
With pretrial detention now in place, Heber “N” will remain in custody while prosecutors build their case. A formal binding process (vinculación a proceso) has been established, meaning the judge found sufficient grounds to proceed to trial. No date for a trial hearing has been announced.
This story was first reported by Ensenada.Net.