Car burglary hot spots identified

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Albuquerque Police Department’s new NITe squad, an acronym for the group, has identified are the worst spots in the city to park your car and is now combing those areas to keep thieves from breaking into cars.

The worst spot is "San Mateo all north of Montgomery," according to APD Sgt. Donovan Olvera.

Shopping centers at cross streets are a haven for criminals.

The sergeant said the victims made it easy for the thieves in many cases.

“Many of times people go and they find their cars have been burglarized, and their windows weren't even broken, they just basically left their car open," Olvera said.

The second hot spot is the downtown area.

”The downtown area, that's also a bad area,” Olvera said. “From 14th street, Central, all the way towards I-25, especially weekends.”

Olvera said the crooks like to target people going out on the town.

“In some cases they even watch you walk into a bar," he said.

But the sergeant said there is an easy solution that will cost you a few bucks.

“A lot of these criminals are less likely to break into a car where there is a parking lot where you have a parking lot attendant.”

The third worst spot for vehicle thefts, looks like a quiet neighborhood.

“On Unser, east of Unser, south of Sage area,” Olvera said.

Areas where new homes have been built have seen a rash of this type of crime.

Olvera and the newly formed NITe squad are saturating those areas, undercover and waiting to strike.

“Your job is to be the cat trying to get away from the dog, and we are the dog trying to catch you,” Olvera said.

Police are using their new computer software to pinpoint hot spots. The crime analysis program shows patterns and trends in neighborhoods, and even tells them what time of day the crimes are occurring.

Along with the NITe squad, regular police officers have also been assigned to patrol those areas more as part of the mayor's crackdown on burglars.