Tijuana municipal police arrested three suspects Tuesday evening after linking them to at least 10 violent robberies of Oxxo convenience stores across the city in less than three weeks.
Officers stopped a black Kia with California license plates near the Tijuana-Tecate toll road and spotted marijuana in the vehicle’s cupholder. The traffic stop led to the detention of Jafet Lorenzo, 29, and Fernando Ulises, 23, both originally from the state of Guerrero, along with Jaret Madai, 29, a native of Tecate.
Ten Stores Hit in 18 Days
Investigators connected the trio to a string of violent holdups targeting Oxxo stores between May 1 and May 18. On May 11 alone, the group allegedly struck three separate locations in a single day. The robberies spanned multiple neighborhoods across Tijuana.
All three suspects have been turned over to the Baja California Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General del Estado, or FGE). They face charges of drug dealing and violent robbery of commercial establishments.
A Recurring Problem for Tijuana
Oxxo stores, Mexico’s largest convenience store chain with thousands of locations nationwide, have become frequent targets for armed robbers in Tijuana. The chain’s long operating hours, cash-heavy transactions, and thin staffing make individual stores easy marks. In September 2025, Tijuana police arrested a suspect known as “El Mini Ruco” who was allegedly responsible for robbing 17 Oxxo locations in the city. In April 2026, another pair of serial Oxxo robbers was captured in the El Pípila neighborhood.
The pattern reflects a broader trend. Tijuana recorded more than 1,800 armed robberies in 2023, a 13 percent increase over the previous year, according to state crime figures cited by FOX 5 San Diego. Convenience stores remain among the most common targets.
What Led to the Arrest
The break in the case came from routine patrol work. Officers on surveillance near the toll road to Tecate noticed the Kia and initiated a stop. The marijuana in plain view gave police cause to detain the occupants, and a subsequent investigation tied all three to the robbery spree.
Oxxo stores are a common stop for both residents and visitors in Tijuana, used for ATM withdrawals, phone top-ups, bill payments, and basic groceries. The chain operates locations on nearly every major commercial street in the city.
The case remains under investigation by the FGE, as reported by Punto Norte.