Out-of-control car thefts need a plan of attack

No. 1 in per-capita auto thefts in the nation. Ouch. That latest statistic among a string of negative figures for New Mexico and its communities comes from a recent report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which analyzed data provided by the National Crime Information Center.

The sad numbers show that the greater Albuquerque area — Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia counties — had 1,114 vehicle thefts per 100,000 people last year. Pueblo, Colo., which ranks second in the nation, had 899 thefts per 100,000 population.

Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry said he’s aware of the problem and that the city is working closely with the Albuquerque Police Department and District Attorney Raúl Torrez to go after repeat offenders who commit the majority of crimes in the city.

Torrez, citing limited resources, said his office will concentrate on the prosecution of serious crimes committed by the “worst of the worst” criminals.

Presumably, the city’s and district attorney’s efforts would include repeat car thieves.

But Albuquerque is not alone. Surrounding communities in the metropolitan area are part of the startling stats.

And cracking down in one community just might exacerbate the problem for its neighbor as thieves skip around seeking greener pastures.

It’s time for elected officials representing the communities and counties in the four-county area to band together — law enforcement, judicial and administrative officials alike — to talk solutions for the high number of auto thefts.

Shaun Willoughby, who heads up Albuquerque’s police union, says car thefts are up because APD is about 150 officers short of the budgeted 1,000 positions. APD says it is working on that, and has seen some movement.

And law enforcement often points to a judicial system that in the past has made it too easy for repeat offenders to get out of jail. That should change under the constitutional amendment voters overwhelmingly approved making it easier to keep crooks who are arrested over and over behind bars while their most recent crimes are adjudicated. Court officers have taken this display of the voters’ will to heart by drafting new guidelines on pretrial detentions.

But solutions won’t come through finger-pointing. True collaboration among the communities and agencies will be crucial in battling this crime epidemic that touches almost everyone who lives here.

It’s time to start talking — and acting on possible solutions.