Local businesses are encouraged to join forces with the Albuquerque Police Department to help fight crime by utilizing their surveillance cameras to catch criminals.

The APD has installed seven advanced cameras along Central to capture any illegal activity in the areas between First and Seventh streets, a recent report by KRQE said. The department is also encouraging businesses in those areas to register their surveillance cameras with the real-time crime center.

The KRQE report said Albuquerque currently has more than 900 surveillance cameras throughout the city, allowing law enforcement to zoom in on a scene or a suspect from several blocks away. Business owners like Chris Morales applaud the effort.

“Hopefully they’ll be able to catch some of these predators, business predators that are causing us business owners a lot of damage,” Morales told KRQE. “Camera setup would give me peace of mind knowing that people’s actions are being watched.”

Mark Torres, APD Real-Time Crime Commander, told KRQE that the department has approximately 132 residents and businesses sharing their surveillance cameras with the real-time crime center. The stretch along Central was selected for the heavy camera presence because of its potential as an entertainment corridor. 

“This is where we are hoping to draw the community,” Torres told KRQE. “We want them to come down and feel safe.”

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