ALBUQUERQUE – The city and state are joining forces to derail organized retail crime, like serial shoplifters, as New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says shoplifting crimes are on the rise, and some have been tied to more serious, and even violent, crimes.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said in a tweet that retail crime can often turn deadly and innocent people are often victimized.
"We’re working with partners to crack down on organized retail crime that so often turns violent and victimizes people just trying to do their jobs," Keller said.
Balderas told KQUE, that since the El Paso, Texas, Walmart shooting in 2019, New Mexico has seen an uptick in violence towards consumers, which is putting the economy and families at risk.
“This is not about shoplifting, this is not about teenage delinquencies,” he said. “This is about a very profitable industry that is now funneling and fueling other criminal activity like human trafficking and gang activity.”
As part of the partnership, the Albuquerque Police Department will have live-feed access to the security cameras and license plate readers in retail stores which will allow the police to notify an owner if a vehicle is listed as having been stolen, according to KQUE.
Balderas is also pushing lawmakers to pass the "Organized Retail Criminal Act" that would make shoplifting a more punishable offense.
The bill is still a work in progress, but Police Chief Harold Medina told the website Security Info Watch that a proposed change would allow a person to face a felony charge, if they shoplift from multiple stores or as part of a group, rather than only being charged a misdemeanor for shoplifting under $500 worth of merchandise.