Petty theft, vandalism and yes, even people treating your back door like a public restroom are headaches business owners know all too well. But one Albuquerque entrepreneur is proving you don’t need a big budget or a security team to fight back.
Thierry Gonzalez, who runs a business in downtown Albuquerque, decided to take matters into his own hands after repeated incidents of people loitering, using drugs and relieving themselves behind his store.
Don’t miss
- I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
- Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
- Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now
“We’ve just had a lot of problems with people using our back door as a bathroom or a place to shoot up or whatever,” Gonzales told KOB 4.
For less than $150, he built a high-impact deterrent using a Ring camera, PVC pipes, sprinklers and Wi-Fi solenoid valves to keep trespassers at bay.
But is this DIY fix just clever or could it cause legal trouble in the long run?
Spraying away trouble
Gonzalez came up with a simple solution to the chaos outside his business. For three years, he’s dealt with unsanitary and unsafe incidents — part of a growing issue in Albuquerque, where homelessness rose to 2,394 people in 2023.
Rather than wait for things to get worse, he took matters into his own hands.
“If they don’t leave, then we spray them with water. That just seems to be the simplest way, and it’s a humane solution to getting someone to stop using our back door as a bathroom,” Gonzales said.
Other business owners are now asking how they can set up similar sprinkler systems to protect their property. The problem isn’t new in Albuquerque. In 2023, KRQE Investigates reported that a business on Central Avenue was dealing with the same issues of homelessness, drug use and human waste — all threatening its survival.
“I pick up out there the burnt tin foils that they’re doing the drugs with. I probably can clean up 100 a day,” said Michael Spaeth, co-owner of Southwestern Minerals. “The needles — I can probably pick up 25, 30 a week. It blows in from the alley. The whole yard is just covered with drug residue.”
While local businesses are clearly struggling, questions remain about whether this approach is legal, and if it’s a sustainable solution or just a temporary fix to keep the lights on.
Read more: You don’t have to be a millionaire to gain access to this $1B private real estate fund. In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here’s how
The legal solution
Gonzalez says his creative setup is already making a difference. What used to be a twice-daily issue now happens only every other day.
“We can’t depend on somebody else to handle the problem for us, and we’re doing what we can to combat it on our own, but do it in a safe, you know, humane manner,” he said.
Whether his method is legal, however, remains unclear. According to KOB 4, New Mexico law doesn’t explicitly address tactics like Gonzalez’s, putting it in something of a gray area.
Mayor Tim Keller has acknowledged the challenges businesses face. In 2024, he announced the Metro Homelessness Initiative (MHI), a program aimed at addressing housing issues, connecting unhoused individuals with jobs and creating paths out of homelessness through its A Better Way Forward campaign.
“We’re acting with urgency, but what the City can do alone is not enough. We are inviting service providers, the business community, and elected leaders to come to the table this fall, pool our resources and turn the tide on homelessness,” Keller said.
Business owners dealing with similar problems are encouraged to reach out to local authorities or seek legal guidance. A little expert advice can go a long way in keeping things under control.
What to read next
- Financial aid only funds about 27% of US college expenses — but savvy parents are using this 3-minute move to cover 100% of those costs
- Here are the 6 levels of wealth for retirement-age Americans — are you near the top or bottom of the pyramid?
- Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
- How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement
Money doesn’t have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. Join now.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
