ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)- A group of witnesses to a string of robberies all said there was one obvious feature about the female suspect: she was wearing a fake beard.
Tamala Cole is charged with robbing seven businesses across the metro with a deadly weapon over the course of four days in August.
According to the criminal complaint, the spree started at a Boba Tea store in the northeast heights where Cole is accused of demanding money from staff while revealing a handgun and wearing the beard.
Similar reports were made at a CVS drug store, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and a Sally’s Beauty Supply store, among others.
Officers tracked her down to her home where she was arrested.
During her first court appearance on Saturday, the state filed a motion for preventative detention.
“There is probable cause as to certainly several counts of armed robbery with a deadly weapon. This will be transferred to district court,” said Judge Brittany Maldonado Malott.
According to online court records, Cole had a previous larceny charge for stealing from a UPS warehouse. But, that case was dismissed because the witness never showed up to court.
