It was on March 16, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued her first public health order. Since the corona virus pandemic has resulted in self quarantine or “shelter orders” on the city, there was early data suggesting that crime was down.
On March 26, a Channel 7 investigative report found there have been 51 fewer people arrested on felonies when compared to the same time last year. There is also a 6% drop in police reports filed this year.
Notwithstanding, some say they are seeing more crime despite what the data says. In the same news report Peter Darrel Kindig, owner of Narrowgate Security Agency said businesses that are forced to close have been calling him, wanting his service and a new type of security system that alerts security officers in the field if there is suspicious motion.
According to Kindig:
“The number of car burglaries and business burglaries in the last 48 hours is completely off the chart. My phone is ringing off the hook. … People now don’t want just an alarm that goes off after they are burglarized. … They want something that alerts before the burglary takes place.”
https://www.koat.com/article/are-criminals-staying-home-too/31947490
During one of his many daily coronavirus response briefings, Mayor Keller had this to say:
“The crime situation in Albuquerque is holding steady and actually down slightly. Because more people are home, there are a lot of theories on this could be why crime is slightly down.”
HOMICIDES CONTINUE
Despite the coronavirus outbreak and the self-quarantine measures, the city’s increase in homicides is continuing.
In 2019, Albuquerque had its 19th homicide on April 11 and on April 2, 2019 there were 17 homicides in the city.
On April 2, 2020, the Albuquerque Police Department announced there have been 19 homicides in the city in 2020, which is ahead of 2019’s record-setting homicide pace. The city’s 19th homicide happened around on Thursday, April 2nd near Central and University.
https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/albuquerque-on-pace-to-set-new-homicide-record/5690589/?cat=500
Late Thursday night, April 2, APD reported yet another shooting. The incident occurred night near McMahon and Unser with the victim was taken to the hospital.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON THE RISE
On April 5, the on line news agency New Mexico Political Reports published a story stating domestic violence incidents in Bernalillo County reportedly jumped 78 percent which is right in line with soaring unemployment, gun sales and other predictors of abuse.
COMMENTARY
The city’s number one problem before the corona virus outbreak was and still is violent crime. It is likely as the pandemic gets worse in the city and more layoffs occur there will be a even more spikes in domestic violence incidents as well as an increase in property crimes and home break-ins.