by Veronica Gallegos
Posted: 06.25.2013 at 5:54 PM
valleycentral.com

An illegal immigrant called Brownsville police to report a human smuggler stole his money.

What started off as a robbery call led police to catch the smuggler and four other undocumented immigrants.

On Monday around 5:30 p.m., Brownsville police arrived at a home on the 1800 block of Del Prado Ave.

Officers said the undocumented man stated that the smuggler had robbed him of $1,000 because he could not walk any more.

According to police, a bystander witnessed the crime.

The smuggler drove back to the area to look for the immigrant.

Police said that is when he was able to get the license plate number, make and model of the vehicle.

"Because of the witness’ information we were able to stop this guy and catch him with these people," Investigator J.J. Trevino said.

After a lookout, police were able to spot the vehicle.

Edgar Omar Lopez was identified as the driver and admitted to transporting the undocumented immigrants.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took the undocumented immigrants, including the man who called police.

Lopez was arrested and charged with smuggling.

The case remains under investigation.

Suspicious activity can be reported to Brownsville police at 546-8477.

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