Albuquerque reports a 7% drop in auto thefts for 2024, with popular brands targeted by thieves
Hyundai, Chevrolet, and Kia are still the top targets for thieves. In 2024, 663 Hyundais, 660 Chevrolets, and 525 Kias were reported stolen. The police didn’t say how many arrests were made this year compared to last.
The drop in thefts is thanks to a few smart strategies. The city’s bait car program, along with 500 steering wheel locks and tech like automated license plate readers, has really helped. Police Chief Harold Medina mentioned that this tech is key in fighting auto theft.
In September, they arrested a guy named Nathaniel Sanchez for running a chop shop where they found four stolen cars. They also caught some teens who took a bait car for a joyride. One kid said he learned to start the car with a screwdriver by watching videos online.
While thefts are down, there’s a new trend of stealing newer cars with push-button starts. Medina hopes Albuquerque will drop out of the top 10 cities for auto thefts, as it was ranked 6th in 2022. His approach is clear: find the thieves and get them off the streets as quickly as possible.
