Police say car thefts are on the rise
The Idaho Falls Police Department said they expect more car thefts as the winter months continue.
Authorities said by September they dealt with about 76 car thefts within the city of Idaho Falls. That’s more than half the total amount of car thefts in 2013, which was 90, and more than the 67 car thefts in 2012. Officers said most of the thefts take place during winter.
“We see people warming up their car, not thinking about the fact that there may be somebody that’s either going to break into their car or actually steal the car,” said IFPD Public Information Officer Joelyn Hansen.
Police said the crime is often committed by teens and young adults. Just as an example, police said they caught two teens with a stolen car from the Common Cents gas station Thursday morning.
“Usually we are very successful in catching the cars. Sometimes they are damaged when we find them, but we are able to retrieve the car and give it back to the owner,” said Hansen.
If a car valued over $1,000 is stolen, those responsible could be charged with grand theft. Suspects can also be convicted of petit theft, if the car is valued at $1,000 or less.
As the holidays continue, law enforcement agencies said they also expect car burglaries to go up as people leave gifts and other valuables inside their vehicles.
