Woman charged in two Allsup’s robberies

Bonnie Amber Burhans, 38, faces one count of felony armed robbery, and one count of felony robbery in two robberies at stores between Dec. 27 and Dec. 29, 2020.

The first robbery was reported around 12:15 a.m. Dec. 27 at the Allsup’s on Seventh Street near Dalbey Drive. Employees told police that a heavyset woman had been waiting in line to pay for a 99-cent orange juice, but when she approached the counter, she produced a black handgun and demanded all the cash in the register, along with several cartons of cigarettes, according to and arrest affidavit filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court.

Two days later, on Dec. 29, LVPD was called to the Allsup’s on Grand Avenue near Garfield Avenue just before midnight for another robbery. A store employee told police a woman said she had a gun, then demanded cash from the register as well as cigarettes. The employee told police the woman said, “I don’t mean to be a b—-, but just throw in all the money and cigarettes.” The woman also grabbed several items that were on the counter. Employees provided a description of the woman, and the SUV she left in as a passenger.

Soon after the robbery, officers with New Mexico State Police stopped an SUV matching the description of the one seen at the Allsup’s. Burhans, who matched the description of the woman from the robbery, was the passenger.

Police searched the vehicle and located a bag containing several full and empty packs of cigarettes, as well as several lighters, according to court records. During an interview with police, Burhans admitted to telling the store employee at the Grand Avenue location she had a gun, and admitted that she had demanded cigarettes. She also admitted that cash found on her during a search belonged to Allsup’s.

Burhans further admitted to robbing the Allsup’s store on Seventh Street, but said she didn’t use a gun. Instead, she said she used a knife, according to documents filed in Magistrate Court. Surveillance footage shows her brandishing a gun, according to police.

The driver of the vehicle alerted police to a gun under the seat. The gun was a BB gun, but police say it matched the description of the gun brandished during the Dec. 27 robbery. The driver denied having any knowledge of the robberies and has not been charged.

Burhans was convicted of burglary in February 2012, stemming from a June 2011 case where she asked to use the phone at a home in the 900 block of Lincoln Street, then stole a purse while inside the home.

On Feb. 20, 2017, Burhans was convicted of robbery after a similar incident from July 2016 when Burhans went to a house on the 900 block of South Pacific and asked a man if she could use his phone. Burhans sprayed the man with pepper spray and then stole his wallet.

Also in February 2017, Burhans was convicted of escape from jail and assault on a peace officer for a January 2017 incident where she ran from an SMCDC corrections officer following a hearing at District Court. A Las Vegas Police officer located Burhans behind the Plaza Hotel — in handcuffs and still wearing jail-issued clothing — and arrested her.

In the recent robbery cases, Burhans was arrested Dec. 30 and booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center under the name Amber B. Burhans, and charged with robbery.

During a Dec. 30, 2020, hearing, Judge Christian Montaño set bond for Burhans at $10,000, cash only. A separate charge of armed robbery was filed Dec. 30.

The robbery case has been transferred to District Court for trial, but a trial date has not been set. Burhans remains in custody at SMCDC and is scheduled to appear in Magistrate Court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing in the armed robbery case.