Rampant vandalism and crime are causing a business owner to consider closing her doors only weeks after opening.

Leticia Leyba, owner of Groove Boutique in Uptown opened just three weeks ago and has endured three break-ins and looting.

“Angry is not even the word to describe, to emphasize just how upset I am,” Leyba told KRQE. “I tried to bring a new concept to Albuquerque, and this is what I’m dealing with.”

Leyba was days away from the grand opening when someone shattered the glass in her storefront. Nothing was taken, but the repairs were costly. “It was disheartening because we weren’t even open yet, and we were already experiencing this,” Leyba said.

Several days later, surveillance video captured a man throwing rocks through the front door, again shattering glass. But this time he gained entry and stole a few items.  The vandalism and crime didn’t stop there.

 “Within 30 minutes, I guess word gets out around the homeless population in the area and throughout that night we get looted five separate times by five separate homeless people,” Leyba said.

The thieves took about $5,300 in merchandise.

The unexpected losses and damages have put an early financial strain on a business Lebya already spent thousands to launch.

“I feel like, as small business owners, we’re just sitting ducks, and no one is hearing us,” Lebya said.

Leyba met with Albuquerque Police Department, which will install cameras tied to the real-time Crime Center. Lebya said she and other Uptown businesses will approach the City Council about their concerns about the rash of crime in the area and the city in general. 

If things don’t change Leyba said she may not be in business much longer. “If Groove is even going to be here next week, I can’t tell you that,” she said.