APD to Crack Down on Car Thieves at the Balloon Fiesta; 200 of the city’s top property crime offenders have been brought to justice.

September 20, 2010

Albuquerque police officers will be using bait cars, helicopters, electronic license plate readers and undercover detectives to catch auto thieves at this year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Dozens of APD detectives will be working overtime to catch thieves in the act. And, for the first time, APD will be using electronic license plate readers at this year’s Balloon Fiesta. The readers can scan hundreds of plates within minutes to determine if they have been stolen.

“This is a full out assault on thieves,” Mayor Richard J. Berry said. “If a thief is thinking about stealing a car at this year’s Balloon Fiesta, they should consider themselves warned. There is a good chance it belongs to us.”

Mayor Berry also announced Monday two major milestones in the city’s effort to combat property crime. Since January auto theft has dropped 14 percent. And, last week APD captured its 200th property crime offender that was featured in the Albuquerque Journal advertisements. Every third Friday APD takes out a full page advertisement in the newspaper featuring 30 wanted property crime offenders.

“200 people have learned that Albuquerque is a bad place to be a criminal,” Mayor Berry said. “And if these offenders are thinking about showing up at this year’s Balloon Fiesta, they too will likely be added to our growing list of captures.”

Dozens of bait vehicles will be deployed at this year’s Balloon Fiesta. The vehicles, which have been donated by the New Mexico Automotive Dealers’ Association, feature some of the most targeted vehicles of the year. APD will also make some of the bait vehicles appear to belong to chase crews.

“We are honored to work with the police department in their efforts to capture auto thieves,” said Charles Henson, President of the New Mexico Automotive Dealers’ Association. “The police department can’t do it alone. We as a community need to work together to help combat property crime.”

The detectives will also be watching parking lots and hotels. They have an undercover bus they will be using as a watch vehicle to catch thieves in the act. Helicopters from APD, the New Mexico National Guard and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department will also be flying during the day and night looking for thieves.