LAS CRUCES, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Las Cruces business owners expressed concern Tuesday about a large number of trespassers breaking into their stores and causing problems on the premises.
During the Las Cruces City Council meeting, council members heard hours of public comment from more than a dozen local business owners, who shared their stories and struggles dealing with trespassers.
Sagar Sahni, owner of the Taste of India restaurant, said his restaurant has been plagued by intruders many times.
Sahni said his restaurant has nine windows and “eight of the nine have been broken so far.”
Sarni also told me that the other day, an intruder broke the restaurant's takeout window and even left a note.
“A guy came in at 3 o'clock in the morning and came through my drive-thru window, and he ate his food inside, turned on the TV, and started watching TV. I left.’ Looking at his morning watch, he called the police himself,” said Sahni.
The note left by the intruder read:
Sorry for intruding. It was very cold. I know I'm going to go to jail for this.
Sahni even believes his restaurant's location is no longer even worth it due to safety concerns.
“We thought we were in a prime location across town. Where do you find a place like this across from City Hall, the police station, the fire station? You might think that would be the safest place.” But we don't feel safe anymore,” Sahni said.
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At a press conference in early February, Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Storey said the department does receive a significant number of calls regarding trespassers in the city.
“Unfortunately, police officers respond to trespassing calls at a level and frequency that would shock most people,” Storey said.
Another owner, Vic Villalobos, a partner at Las Cruces Dock Diving, told CBS4 he believes the number of trespassers is impacting the business the owners receive.
“It affects our business because people don't want to come in,” Villalobos said.
Villalobos was also one of the few business owners to organize a meeting for Las Cruces owners to come together to voice their concerns about the overwhelming number of break-ins on their property.
“Last night we came together with over 50 businesses. We all have the same problems, we all commit the same crimes, and we believe it’s time we come together as businesses and communities to make our voices heard. We decided it was time to come to the City Council,'' Villalobos said.
Recommendation: Las Cruces business owner grapples with frequent trespassers on property
Business owners who met last night are scheduled to meet again next Monday to continue addressing these concerns and consider other safety options.
To contact your district's city council member, please see the information below.
- Mayor – Eric Enriquez. Phone: 575-541-2067
- District 1 – Kathy McClure. Phone: 575-541-2073
- District 2 – Bill Mathias. Phone: 575-541-2068
- District 3 – Becky Graham. Phone: 575-541-2070
- District 4 – Johana Bencomo. Phone: 575-541-2071
- District 5 – Becky Collan. Phone: 575-541-2072
- District 6 – Yvonne Flores. Phone: 575-541-2069
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