In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Richard Johnson, the owner of a local sportswear shop called The Locker Room, had a bittersweet start to his week. On Monday morning, his new store sign was finally up—a small victory after a tough few months. But just as he was celebrating, he was also dealing with the aftermath of yet another break-in.
“When is this going to stop?” Johnson said, his frustration clear.
Earlier this month, Johnson moved his business to a new location at Menaul and San Mateo, hoping for a fresh start. He was in the middle of installing security cameras when the break-in happened. Unfortunately, this wasn’t his first brush with crime. At his previous location in the International District, thieves had stolen everything and even shot up his storefront, forcing him to relocate.
Last Wednesday, security footage from a neighboring shop captured a man using a chisel to break through the back door of Johnson’s new store.
“He started around 3:15 in the morning. Every time a car drove by, he’d stop and walk away, heading up the alley. He wasn’t working on it nonstop,” Johnson explained.
It took the thief about three hours to break in. This time, Johnson lost around $1,500 worth of merchandise. Now, he’s left wondering—was he specifically targeted, or was this just another case of holiday looting?
“It’s so frustrating,” he said. “You start thinking about what else you could do, but I’m still trying to fix the damage at the old location while also building up this new one.”
Johnson looked into the city’s “window of opportunity” grant, designed to help businesses recover from vandalism. The grant can reimburse up to $2,500, but there’s a catch: business owners have to pay for repairs upfront.
“When you’re dealing with break-ins, trying to rebuild, and keeping your small business running, it’s hard to come up with $2,500 or $5,000 to pay out of pocket,” Johnson said.
Although Johnson filed online reports for each break-in, the most recent one hasn’t been assigned a police report number yet. Despite his challenges, he doesn’t blame the police. Instead, he believes some of the city’s policies and procedures are making it harder for small businesses like his to stay afloat.
“There’s something missing,” he said. “It feels like there are gaps in the system that allow this kind of thing to happen all over the city.”
Even with these setbacks, Johnson refuses to let the challenges win. He’s staying optimistic and keeping The Locker Room open for business, determined to keep pushing forward.
