New surveillance cameras installed in crime-prone areas are helping to catch criminals and protect businesses and their employees.
According to KOAT, Albuquerque Police have arrested 16 alleged repeat offenders in recent days, all for shoplifting. Police said they recovered $4,500 total in merchandise that was stolen. Among those arrested was Kellie Shugart, who is allegedly connected to as many as 69 commercial burglaries. Police told KOAT that Shugart barricaded herself inside an apartment near Montgomery and Louisiana before surrendering.
The arrests come at a time when Albuquerque Police are working to reduce crime downtown by putting up seven new crime cameras on Central Avenue, from 1st to 7th Street. The cameras are used to track and report crimes in real-time, according to KOAT.
Businesses in the area are also encouraged to register their own camera systems into the Albuquerque Police's real-time crime center to help catch criminals in the act. The cameras are helping business owners and their employees feel safer.
Sam Batsaikhan, a manager for Sushi Hana, told KOAT, "I think the cameras are a great addition to downtown. I don't think they'll stop everything, but we get our windows smashed quite often. So, it might help with that."
Victoria Pimentel, who works for Katrina's Ice Cream, said feeling safe is important. “Working in here, I do feel safe,” she said. “It's different when we walk outside. It's usually two or three of us that go out together to take out the trash just to be safe."
Brittany Sterling, a server at Boots and Bourbon on Central, told KOAT, “the best way to prevent crime in the area is to have more officers patrolling near central overnight.”