APD Highlights Decrease in Shoplifting in Busy Shopping Districts

ALBUQUERQUE – APD announced a decrease in reported shoplifting incidents in larger shopping districts throughout the city ahead of the busy shopping seasons.

APD Proactive Response Team officers in the Northeast and Northwest Area commands have shifted focus to property crimes, specifically shoplifting, in the areas of Cottonwood Mall, Coronado Shopping Center and Uptown. APD has seen a decrease in citywide shoplifting from 884 reported incidents in January 2024 compared to 444 incidents in August 2024. PRT officers and Organized Crime Unit detectives have worked joint operations in the busier shopping districts, identifying and arresting repeat known offenders.

Through investigations and internal information sharing, officers found that many repeat shoplifting offenders were also identified as suspects in other property crimes such as auto burglaries, auto thefts, narcotics offenses and trespassing. With an increased focus, in and around the shopping districts, PRT officers are able to contact individuals who are loitering and often times trespassing at businesses. The increased proactive work has led to an increase in relationships with business owners, loss prevention personnel and stakeholders. These professional relationships with businesses have opened and maintained a line of communication and information sharing amongst the community and APD officers. In the past, businesses have been limited in their reporting abilities due to corporate policies, but the increased communication with APD officers has assisted many businesses in revisiting their reporting policies, allowing officers to better investigate shoplifting cases and hold offenders accountable. Last year, the shoplifting aggregation and aggravated shoplifting laws went into effect which have helped officers and detectives build stronger cases against repeat offenders and individuals who utilize a weapon during a shoplifting.

Earlier this week, Northeast PRT officers arrested Michael Utzler, 45, for felony shoplifting and learned had two active warrants for shoplifting. They also arrested Joshua Seitz, 44, for felony shoplifting and learned he was already being investigated by another agency for previous shoplifting incidents.

Business owners throughout the city are encouraged to join the Albuquerque Retail Assets Protection Association (ARAPA) to connect with local law enforcement and share trends, help identify repeat offenders and build lines of communication. Businesses can register here.

You can find a breakdown of this year’s shoplifting incidents attached and video footage of arrests here.

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