Property crime rates up in Idaho Falls

The Idaho Falls police department has released its 2014 crime report.

Overall crime is at an all-time low, however, property crime is on the rise.

In 2014, violent crimes such as: assaults, rapes and robberies, per 100,000 people in Idaho Falls was 206.

Cities with similar populations of 50,000 to 100,000 people saw 335 violent crimes per 100,000 people.

As for property crimes, Idaho Falls saw 2,607 which included: theft, burglaries and larcenies, per 100,000 people.

A good way to protect your loved ones, your home and your valuables might be as easy as investing in deadbolts for your doors.

According to a consumer reports national research center survey, 19 percent of U.S. homeowners don’t always lock their doors.

Or investing in a security system with cameras.

Steven Rowley, of Ark Lock and Security, said the benefits of a security system are plenty. “And then we actually have had some clients put security camera’s in for and we actually caught the people when they came back around the second time. And they were able to be prosecuted by the authorities.”

Tiffany Jenson, a criminologist, said, “Most crime you see is property crime theft, fraud, burglary, vandalism, graffiti mostly crimes against your stuff.”

She said there isn’t a concrete explanation of why the crime rates are down.

“As much as we would like to pin it down to incarceration population or economy, there’s not any one big explanation as to why the trends are down.”

Jenson also said that generally crime is committed by young people, between age 12 and 24.

According to the report, Idaho Falls clearance rates which means cases that were solved, for property crimes was 28 percent, while the average for other cities is 22 percent.

Even though crime rates are down, the Idaho Falls Police Department saw a rise in the number of service calls.

In 2014, the Idaho Police were dispatched to 25,561 calls for service.