ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s a concern for balloonists every year, the risk of a trailer being stolen, with a balloon inside. Now as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta quickly approaches, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said this year, there’s a secure place for balloonists to store their trailers for free.
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BCSO is partnering with United Storage ABQ. The storage facility, off I-25, at Rio Bravo, just opened its doors. They’ll be offering free storage for balloonists’ trailers to prevent them from getting stolen. “We are going to have 24/7 lighting. It’s going to be very well lit, it’s completely gated off around the perimeter of the property,” said Jose Orozco.
The idea comes after several balloons and trailers were stolen during Balloon Fiesta in years past. In 2022, Joelly Bee was taken from the hotel parking lot where the owner was staying. Then in 2023, a pilot’s balloon and trailer were stolen from outside his home.