KVOA anchor Martha Vazquez, who has been a fixture on Tucson TV for three decades, abruptly resigned on Monday, following an alleged shoplifting incident that occurred over the weekend.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that a woman with the same name and birth date as Vazquez was cited Saturday on suspicion of shoplifting from the Tucson Mall.

After alerting staff of Vazquez’s resignation on Monday afternoon, KVOA news director Cathie Batbie-Loucks told the Daily Star that the veteran anchor’s departure was “due to personal reasons.”

A native Tucsonan, Vazquez began her broadcasting career with CBS-affiliate KOLD in the 70s, before moving on to KVOA in 1984. Most recently, she anchored the station’s 4 p.m. weekday newscast. Read more

Tucson’s KVOA has promoted Cathie Batbie-Loucks to news director.  Batbie-Loucks has been with the NBC-affiliate for 11 years, previously serving as assistant news director and, most recently, as “content management center director.”

“Cathie has tremendous institutional knowledge when it comes to the Tucson marketplace,” said Bill Shaw, KVOA’s president and general manager, in announcing the promotion. “Her strong work ethic and leadership skills will allow KVOA to continue to provide news excellence going forward.”

Batbie-Loucks succeeds Kathleen Choal, who was promoted to president and general manager of KSBY, another Cordillera Communications-owned station.

“Over the course of my professional career, KVOA has afforded me many amazing opportunities,” said Batbie-Loucks. “I am humbled — day in and day out — by the commitment of the talented journalists I work with at News 4 Tucson, and now I have the honor of leading this exceptional team as we open a new chapter in KVOA’s legacy.”