Old Town Safety & Security
A Practical Way to Keep Old Town Safe
Old Town's on-call security program is built on shared responsibility. Property owners, merchants, and residents all benefit from a safer, more walkable Old Town, and all are expected to contribute their fair share to sustain it.
This is not a transactional service or a pay-to-play benefit. It is shared neighborhood safety that works only when the people here take ownership of the place they operate in.
Participation is expected, not enforced
The program relies on neighbors stepping up because they recognize the value of consistent, neighborhood-wide security.
Coverage spans all of Old Town
Security response operates across Old Town as a whole, not as a patchwork of paid and unpaid zones.
This is our neighborhood
Contributions support a common baseline of safety and behavior, not individualized access or entitlement.
Pass-through to tenants is discouraged
Some tenants already participate independently, and safety works best when responsibility is not simply shifted downstream.
Everyone Has a Role
The security program is sustained by the people who live, work, and own in Old Town. Your contribution is based on who you are and your role in the neighborhood.
Merchants
- 24/7 on-call security response
- Daily patrol of Old Town
- Incident documentation and reporting
Property Owners
- Coverage for all properties you own
- Fair share based on tenant count
- Trespass enforcement on your parcels
Residents
- On-call response for your home
- Safer streets and walkways
- Community safety reporting
Security Patrol: (505) 353-7441
24/7 on-call. Call when someone's person, property, or storefront is being threatened. Call 911 first for life-threatening emergencies.
Call NowCoverage Across All of Old Town
All property owners, merchants, and residents within the Historic Old Town Association boundaries are able to call the security company. Coverage operates across the entire Old Town neighborhood — not patchwork, not limited to contributing members only.
After calling security, post in the community WhatsApp group to keep neighbors informed and avoid duplicate calls. The group link is in the footer of the monthly newsletter.
HOTA Boundaries
The map below shows the on-call security boundaries for Old Town Albuquerque.
Coverage runs roughly from Rio Grande Boulevard on the west to 19th Street on the east, and from Mountain Road on the north to Lomas Boulevard and Central Avenue on the south, with Old Town Plaza inside. North of Old Town Road the east edge stops about a block short of 19th Street, so the Albuquerque Museum is just outside.
Common Questions
When should I call security?
Call when someone's person, property, or storefront is being threatened. For life-threatening emergencies, always call 911 first.
Is this a membership fee?
No. HOTA Membership is free and grants voting rights. The security subscription is a separate contribution to the neighborhood's security program.
What if I'm a merchant and a property owner?
Members can hold multiple types, but each member has one security subscription. If you're both a merchant and a property owner, your fair share is calculated based on your combined role and displayed as a suggestion on your dashboard.
Should I pass costs through to my tenants?
Pass-through is discouraged. Some tenants already participate independently as merchants, and safety works best when responsibility is shared directly.
What does the security officer do?
QGear LLC conducts one daily patrol of the full HOTA boundaries and designated parking areas, responds to emergency calls 24 hours a day, and forwards weekly reports via email.
Can anyone within the boundaries call?
Yes. All property owners, merchants, and residents within HOTA boundaries can call for service, regardless of contribution status.
About QGear LLC
QGear LLC is a local private security group operated by Robert Garcia, Director of Operations. The Safety and Security Committee of the Historic Old Town Association selected QGear for its unique advantage: they already patrol surrounding properties and offer a model where anyone within HOTA boundaries can call for service.
All properties fall under the security agreement. There is no checkerboard of covered and uncovered areas — every property in Old Town is covered.
We ask that everyone think about the value that comprehensive on-call security brings to Old Town and what you would be willing to contribute. Be as generous as you can. That is how we will be successful in Old Town. HOTA Safety and Security Committee
Ready to Contribute?
Join the Old Town Portal to set up your security subscription and support the program.
Join the PortalNeighbor-funded. On-call. 24/7.
Old Town's security program is how this neighborhood takes care of itself. No waiting on the City, no relying on someone else to act. If you live, work, or own here — this is your program.