According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau
Albuquerque has the largest incidence of auto theft per capita in the United States. According to reports, the region's population is about 887,000 people, with 10,000 recorded cases of theft and carjacking in 2016. Since 2015, the number of registered stolen vehicles has risen by about 50%. The problem is of interest to law enforcement and has an impact on the life of those who live in the region. The aim of this study is to determine the root causes of the car stealing crisis in Albuquerque and to formulate potential solutions to the problem within New Mexico. The methods employed in this research include the use of questionnaires, interviews and reading through literature sources to obtain information about the rates of auto theft. Statistics were also taken into consideration concerning the rising rate of larceny for motor vehicles, number of police officers, and the rates of recidivism.
Discussion of Results
The underlying reasons behind the increased rate of auto theft in Albuquerque, New Mexico are unclear. However, quite a number of them have been suggested. Statistics evidence that the crime rates of the vehicles have increased over time.
Lack of a Proper Auto Theft Enforcement Law
Notably, the offenders caught stealing motor vehicles are convicted but later released. The release of these criminals shows that there lacks sufficient laws enforced towards rehabilitating their behavior, especially since about 46% of the published criminals relapse on their criminal activities. Despite the state having clear rules to convict and rehabilitate the law offenders, it is not evident that there are proper laws enforced to curb the issue of auto thefts. Oscar et al. (22) state that Albuquerque has less police force. Moreover, the laws integrated fail to function towards reducing the overall issue of auto theft within the region.
High Local Recidivism Rate
According to Nicole (par 4), the crime rate in New Mexico has always been high. Majority of the felonious activities within the country have been perpetrated through motor vehicles theft. However, some of the criminals convicted are later released after their conviction period is over. Miller, Ivall, and Schultz (98) assert that increased rate of social recidivism is among the leading factors causing high auto theft rate in the state. The released criminals re-join bad gangs connected to previously. They therefore engage in the criminal behavior. Statistics show that there has been a decrease in the jail population, suggesting that the increased rate of auto theft in the region is caused by recidivism (Sarah 140).
Reduced Police Officers
The number of police officers within the region has diminished over years. The reduction in the number of police officers is directly related to the increased rate of auto theft within Albuquerque, New Mexico. Notably, with fewer police officers, guarding of the vehicles in the street is minimum. Therefore, theft cases arise.
Recommendations of the Possible Solutions
Some solutions can be integrated towards achieving better outcomes and reducing the overall auto theft experienced in Albuquerque, New Mexico. From the analysis, it is evident that causes of increased rate of auto theft are all related. The instances specifically revolve around regulations regarding vehicle security, police officers and recidivism. In light of the above information, the possible solutions are:
Refining and Monitoring the Criminal Justice Practices
Since most of the criminal offenders released back into the society contribute to the rising numbers of motor vehicle theft in Albuquerque New Mexico, reforming the criminal justice system within the state would have positive benefits. Reforms would assist reduce auto theft in cases extensively. Nicole (7) suggests that incarcerated criminals convicted of stealing vehicles should be retained within the prison systems to ensure they are reformed before release. Notably, the approach can largely trim the criminals. Moreover, adverse effects can be eliminated. The system should adopt use of psychological approaches to ensure individuals are reformed. Such procedures may involve using Trans-Theoretical Models of Change to provide behavioral transformation and hence reduce number of auto thefts within Albuquerque New Mexico.
Engaging in Community Policing Approaches
Community policing is one of the most appropriate approaches that should be integrated in the system to reduce the problem of motor vehicle theft in the region. While the number of police forces is less in the area, the use of community policing would have positive benefits through curbing problem experienced. Ehlert (75) suggests that the community can engage with the police forces concerning various levels and platforms such as the social media, mobile phones and through police websites to help seize criminals and avert the challenge faced.
Increasing the Number of Police Officers
The most appropriate approach to curb the issue of auto theft would entail increasing number of police forces per region in Albuquerque. The police have the authority and mandate to apprehend the criminals. The law enforcers can quickly seize the criminals and ensure reduction of number of auto thefts within the region. Increase in the number of police forces will be efficient since the ratio of vehicles to the police will be low, resulting to fewer cars guarded by a given police force. Moreover, the police administration should utilize the available resources such as CCTV cameras to increase their surveillance and hence reduce the overall rate of auto theft in Albuquerque New Mexico.
To plan for the integration of the solutions, the government in the United States should co-operate with the police force and the community towards implementing the same. Notably, working together can have positive effects by reducing auto theft cases in Albuquerque New Mexico. In addition to the strategy, the government should develop a proper evaluation approach to understand what actions are practical and to what extent.
Conclusion
The purpose of the research enatiled identifying underlying reasons for car theft issue in Albuquerque. It has devised possible solutions towards solving the identified problem within New Mexico. The National Insurance Crime Bureau indicates that Albuquerque has the highest rate of auto theft per capita within the United States. The study has unraveled that the offenders caught stealing motor vehicles are convicted but are later released. The released criminals join bad gangs, which had connections with previously thereby reengaging in criminal behavior. Statistics show that there has been a decrease in the jail population, suggesting that recidivism causes increased rate of auto theft in the region. The most appropriate approach to curb the issue of auto theft would entail increasing number of police forces per area in Albuquerque.
Works Cited
Ehlert. “Settler Social Order: The Violence of Policing in New Mexico.”2016, prison, print.
Miller, Ivall, and Schultz. “Albuquerque police department monthly report, January 2013.” 2013. From https://www.cabq.gov/police/documents/monthly-reports/January_2013.pdf/@@download/file/January_2013.pdf
Nicole. “Car Thieves Shift into High Gear In Albuquerque.” Abqjournal.com., 2017. Web. 21 Oct. 2017. From https://www.abqjournal.com/813721/city-grabs-no-2-spot-in-vehicle-thefts-in-us.html
Oscar et al. “Incorporating Public Insecurity Indicators: A New Approach to Measuring Social Welfare in Mexico.” Social Indicators Research , 2017: 1-23.
Sarah. Juveniles in residential placement, 2011. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2014. From https://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/249507.pdf
