From APD Foothills Area Command Crime: Residential Burglaries, Cluster Mail Box Thefts

Dear Foothills Area Command Community Leaders,

Residential Burglaries
I want to update you on a trend the APD Crime Analysis Unit is seeing regarding residential burglaries in the Foothills. Last week’s data gathered shows a trend in the Foothills of single family homes being targeted for residential burglaries that are located on corner lots near ‘feeder roads’ to traffic corridors. These crimes are occurring on Tuesdays through Saturdays and being reported to police after 5:00 pm. This seems to show that while most of us are work – weekdays until 5:00 pm – burglars are at work too. The crimes are being reported when most people arrive home from work to discover they have been burglarized. Although these are occurring on Saturdays too, consider that Saturdays most of are gone for hours at a time running errands and attending events or kids’ sports games, etc.

What to do?
Lock up, consider additional locks on windows (anti-lift/anti-slide) and sliding glass doors, remove anything from the yard that could be used to help a burglar climb over fencing or walls to your back yard, inspect your lighting, trim your shrubs for unobstructed sight lines. Get involved! Consider starting a Neighborhood Watch group on your block – get a starter kit by calling 924-3600. Attend your Neighborhood or Home Owner Association meetings and participate. Neighbors who know each other care about each other.

Cluster Mailbox Thefts
A word on the cluster mailbox thefts I warned you about in earlier messages: please continue to be alert.
Call 242-COPS (2677) from a place where you are safe if you see suspicious activity such as a person tampering with a community mailbox.
Take your outgoing mail to a secure USPS box.

A successful tool one Neighborhood Watch group is using: Our newest Neighborhood Watch in the Foothills has posted a laminated flier on their cluster mailbox alerting neighbors to report any suspicious activity or mail thefts to APD and the USPS with the phone numbers posted on their flier. They are working together, raising awareness and providing tools to their block.

Have a great weekend and stay safe!

Jill Garcia, Crime Prevention Specialist
Foothills Area Command, Albuquerque Police Department
12800 Lomas Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112
jcgarcia@cabq.gov
332-5240 Front Office
323-4644 Direct Line
332-5249 Fax