APD IS MAKING A DENT IN AUTO THEFTS. PROPERTY CRIMES COMMANDER HAROLD MEDINA SAYS PRIOR TO 2010, ALBUQUERQUE CONSISTENTLY RANKED IN THE TOP 10 CITIES IN THE U-S FOR STOLEN VEHICLES. SINCE THEN, HE SAYS THE CITY DROPPED OUT OF THE TOP 10 … THEN OUT OF THE TOP 20. ONE REASON IS VIN ETCHINGS. HE TELLS US THEY DISCOURAGE AUTO THEFTS BECAUSE THE NUMBER IS ETCHED INTO EVERY WINDOW … AN EXPENSE THIEVES DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH. HE SAYS THEY'D HAVE TO REPLACE EVERY WINDOW.
MEDINA'S DEPARTMENT ALSO USES BAIT CARS … AND GETS AN ARREST WARRANT FOR AN OFFENDER INSTEAD OF BUILDING A CASE TO PRESENT TO A GRAND JURY, THEN WAITING FOR AN INDICTMENT.
HE SAYS AUTO THEFTS ARE UP SLIGHTLY THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST, BUT THE GOAL IS TO GET IT TO WHERE IT'S EVEN WITH LAST YEAR'S NUMBER OF UNDER 3-THOUSAND.
