SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – affiliate KRQE has obtained footage of the man who spent the night in a Santa Fe Walmart and had free run of the store on Christmas day. Store surveillance footage showed him making himself at home, eating food, and loading up carts with goods.

It was on Christmas Day when Santa Fe police arrived at the Walmart on Herrera Dr. They were called there because someone was inside the store, even though it was closed for Christmas. An employee found a man inside and called the police.

After searching the store, lapel footage shows police finding a man they identified as Rodolpho Mendiola in the pet supplies aisle. According to Santa Fe police, Mendiola entered the store on Christmas Eve, hid in the clothing section, and waited until workers left. Walmart surveillance footage shows him making himself at home overnight: having the entire place to himself on Christmas Day. 

“He probably slept here overnight,” said an officer in the body camera video.

Store surveillance footage showed him drinking alcohol and police found multiple carts full of items the man was collecting. The store added up the merchandise in the carts which came out to be more than $24,000 worth of goods.

Police said Mendiola damaged display cases inside the store, in one instance trying to pry a case open with an airsoft gun. They said he also damaged multiple electronics. The total damage added up to more than $1,200. Police also found a small camp inside. “He was sleeping behind all that. There’s a little tent or a little sleeping bag spread out over there,” said one Santa Fe police officer in the body camera footage.

Mendiola was arrested for aggravated burglary, resisting, trespassing, and other charges.

The Walmart Asset Protection told the Santa Fe Police Department that Mendiola had two previous shoplifting incidents from the store in 2023 and 2024.