APD's Real Time Crime Center helps catch overnight Old Town burglary suspects
Dec 18, 2024
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It was almost just another smash and grab inside an Old Town business overnight, but this time that business is crediting Albuquerque Police's Real Time Crime Center for immediately getting the suspects in cuffs.
Story continues below
Don't Miss: Why one farmer’s Chimayo green chile is gaining fame in the final frontier
Crime: Albuquerque police seek information on pair accused in deadly stabbing
Community: What did New Mexico look like before the dinosaurs?
Crime: Man detained after being accused of a brutal beating in Albuquerque fast food restaurant
“They had a metal pole, kind of like a street sign. Just without the sign. They just rammed the glass until it broke,” said Happy Hiker Co-Owner Camp Dozier.
Dozier said he woke up early Wednesday morning to alerts on his phone that someone was inside his Old Town store. “The alarm was going off, I pulled up the cameras and saw two guys just ransacking the place. So, I call 911 and head over,” said Dozier.
Surveillance footage inside shows two men grabbing items and stuffing them in bags. They stole backpacks, hats, jewelry, knives, and more. Those items were worth around $2,500, but this time, it's not gone for good.
The shop already has those items back and two suspects are now in custody with the help of APD’s Real Time Crime Center. “It was a joint effort from both the business owner, who was able to view surveillance inside their store, and those working at the Real Time Crime Center,” said APD’s Field Services Bureau Deputy Chief Cecily Barker.
Minutes after the burglary, APD said the business called with information on the suspects allowing APD to use its live camera feeds on Rio Grande Blvd. where they found two men running through the street. Officers eventually found the suspects hiding nearby.
“We want to make sure the community knows that if you're going to burglarize businesses that you're going to be taken into custody and held accountable,” said Barker.
Shane Mitchell and Cade Silvers are now facing aggravated burglary charges, while the business is cleaning up shop. “I try not to focus on the frustrating part. I'm very happy that we got our stuff back. The police caught the people quickly. They responded well and it's just a chore at this point,” said Dozier.
Dozier said they now plan on adding bars to their windows to keep more break-ins from happening. “It’s not the end of the world. We're going to keep moving on,” said Dozier.
The business said it will cost about $1,000 to repair its window, but they plan on using the city's newer vandalism grant program to help get reimbursed for that cost.
APD is also encouraging businesses to register their cameras with the Real Time Crime Center. They also said businesses can call Municipal Development at 505-768-3830 to begin the application process.