Albuquerque Police Department sees large decrease in auto thefts so far this year

Albuquerque, which for years has ranked among the worst in the country for auto theft, saw a sharp drop in vehicles reported stolen so far this year.

The Albuquerque Police Department said Tuesday it had “turned the tide” on auto theft and released statistics showing a 42% drop, year-to-date, compared with 2024. Officials said there had been 3,128 vehicles reported stolen so far this year, compared with 5,437 cases at this same time in 2024.

But the statistics are preliminary and 2025 is not over, with the number of auto thefts still likely to rise: the month of December often sees a spike as thieves target vehicles left to warm up in the driveway.

For the last decade, Albuquerque has consistently landed on the top 10 list of worst cities in the country for auto theft, earning the No. 1 spot in 2016. In 2024, Albuquerque ranked eighth on the list.

While national rankings for auto thefts in 2025 have yet to be released, APD Chief Harold Medina said the city is “on pace” to move off of the top 10 list for the first time in several years.

The more than 5,000 vehicles reported stolen last year is in stark contrast to the 10,000 reported stolen in 2016 — the year Albuquerque was ranked worst in auto theft.

APD spokesperson Rebecca Atkins said officers made 227 arrests in auto theft cases this year, a 22% increase from 2024, when there were 182 such arrests.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Medina said that a combination of technology — including automated license plate readers and drones — have been key to reducing auto theft in the city.

“Critics often say we just need more officers and that technology isn’t the solution, but our officers will tell you the opposite, these tools make them more effective and safer,” Medina said in the news release. “Drones give us instant visibility during searches, the Grappler safely ends dangerous pursuits, and (license plate readers) and bait cars help us get ahead of auto thieves before they strike again.”

The bait car program, which began in 2010 with one vehicle stationed in a detective’s driveway, has grown dramatically in recent years, he said. This year, bait cars were stolen 42 times and 45 people were arrested in the thefts.

APD highlighted a case of “prolific theft” to tout their success in battling auto theft: 31-year-old James Hamlin.

Authorities locked onto Hamlin in November after an investigation into a stolen truck led back to him, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.

Officers conducted a “long-term” surveillance on a house Hamlin frequented and found six stolen vehicles, 11 firearms, and narcotics during the arrest, according to the release.

Hamlin was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of his arrest, as he was pending trial in a separate auto theft case from 2023.