Neighborhood preps to 'fight crime'

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An increase in crime has residents of one Albuquerque neighborhood taking the fight against crime into their own hands.

Ventana Ranch residents are preparing to literally fight off the bad guys.

One class with Self Defense Instructor Matt Knaub is all it takes to learn how to defend yourself.

"Yeah you could actually take that one class and go use that on the street to help you that day," Knaub said.

Anyone can learn from Knaub. His students range from the retired, to a stay at home mom, to a second grader.

Knaub teaches residents in the Ventana Ranch Subdivision how to protect themselves—just in case.

"We do knife disarms if you're held up at a knife, or a gun disarm," Knaub said.

The homeowner's association contacted the self defense instructor, after crime skyrocketed in the region.

"As everybody knows crime has been going up everywhere, and it has definitely been going up here," Knaub said.

The Ventana Ranch newsletter reported 49 vandalism incidents from March 2008 to 2009. However, 20 cases popped up in a 30 day period this year, and burglaries are on pace for a 20 percent increase from last year.

"There's a lot of violent people, a violent encounter is very likely in our society today," self defense student Pat Cuoco said. "This type of training could be useful."

However the neighborhood's residents said the most important lesson is for the criminals—who will not be tolerated in the area.

Knaub said he hopes more residents will join classes. He said he plans to offer the class at least once a month.