More Editorial

• Commentary: New Mexico Tech's plans have some Socorro residents up in arms
• Trib takes: Feb. 20
• Bouquets & brickbats: Feb. 20

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

It's an epidemic, and Albuquerque is rightly seeking a potent remedy from the Legislature.

On Tuesday, city officials and other advocates said they need help to battle the escalating trend of auto thefts in the city.

As Tribune reporter Christopher Sanchez detailed in "Albuquerque mayor wants tougher penalties for auto thieves" after a two-year decline in auto thefts from 4,088 in 2003 to 3,796 in 2005, these crimes spiked in 2006, when some 5,515 vehicles were stolen in Albuquerque.

That's a 45 percent increase in one year and plenty cause for alarm.

In addition to obvious property loss and costlier insurances premiums for everyone, the crime is disruptive, depriving owners of the transportation they need to get to work and conduct their lives.

Officials said they need a comprehensive crackdown on car thieves and will ask legislators to help by passing more severe criminal penalties to deter would-be thieves.

Harsher penalties are needed, said Mayor Martin Chavez, to reverse the trend. Among the ideas that will be proposed in Santa Fe are tougher sentences for repeat offenders and racketeering charges for vehicle thieves involved in auto theft rings.

The Legislature and Gov. Bill Richardson should act quickly on the request and provide substantial relief early in the upcoming session. The new laws should become effective as soon as possible.

Part of the reason for the high theft numbers in Albuquerque is the city's proximity to the Mexican border, across which stolen vehicles are sold.

But cracking down on auto thieves, as Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz explained, should also reduce associated crime numbers, such as drug trafficking.

Chamber of Commerce President Terri Cole said that tougher auto theft laws would help the entire city, from residents to small businesses.

"It'd be a place that is safer, where auto theft isn't as easily done," she said.

The city also could heighten neighborhood awareness and help organize more neighborhood crime-watchdog groups, particularly in the parts of the city hit the hardest by the auto thieves.