Vandals target homes, businesses in ABQ

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - A group of vandals kept Albuquerque city workers busy Monday, after a weekend vandalism spree just outside downtown. Lots of paint, money and man-power followed the vandals' path.  

From I-25 West to Broadway, the damage was hard to miss, stretching for several city blocks along Central Avenue. City officials said the calls started flooding in early Monday morning.
    
Call after call, workers with Albuquerque's graffiti removal team were busy Monday morning cleaning up tags just east of downtown.

"This was quite a bit of graffiti in a short amount of time, that's unusual you know for one weekend," said Jill Holbert, acting Director for Albuquerque's Solid Waste Management Department.

It appears the vandals didn't have just one place in mind. Whomever did the damage targeted homes, fences, brick walls and several local businesses for blocks.
     
Anything around Central, from I-25 to Broadway appeared to be in the path of destruction.

"It was a one time event that affected a lot of people," said Holbert. "We do this daily obviously, but this was a fairly concentrated area in the downtown area."

Among the businesses hit was the Octopus and the Fox, a local boutique. Graffiti marked the side wall and someone even carved into the glass on the boutique's front door.

Business owner, Belita Orner was shocked.

"You know we're a local business and I don't want to put our money into buying a new door just because someone carved in it," said Orner.

City officials and police told KRQE  News 13 it does not appear the vandalism is gang-related. Holbert said it appears to be the work of maybe two people, who caused a  lot of damage.
    
Orner said the vandalism makes things worse in an already difficult time.

"I think all over businesses are struggling which is unfortunate, and you know we want to stay open, it's almost been two years, it's hard enough as it is," said Orner.

There is no question the damage was extensive, but city officials could not estimate a total cost.  

The owner of the Octopus and the Fox said she is going to have to replace her front door, and that could come with a hefty price tag.

Clean-up costs for the city's graffiti removal team are covered. Albuquerque residents pay for that service on their garbage bills.