Crime rates spike as temperatures outside increase

Summer is a hot time for crime.

With warmer weather, vehicle prowls, graffiti and vandalism all go up. Local police said most people don’t know they often make themselves targets for these crimes.

“Our peak month for crime is July,” said Joelyn Hansen, coordinator for the Idaho Falls Police Department. “We respond to a lot more incidents in those summer months.”

Statistics show the crime rate goes up 16 percent during June, July and August. Violent crimes tend to increase by 13 percent and crime overall goes up about 10 percent in the summer.

“Those are the trends we see,” said Hansen. Because most people are out and about, it’s warmer, people can stay out longer, there are longer daylight hours. We just see a lot more crime during the summer.”

Police said what most people don’t realize is they put themselves into compromising situations. Thieves focus on crimes of opportunity, so not leaving purses and valuables in the car, as well as locking your door can prevent you from becoming a victim.

“They (criminals) love an unlocked door, but they’re also not afraid to break a window if they see something they can easily retrieve,” said Hansen.

Police also suggest finding activities for children and teens to do over the summer, because juvenile crime increases as well.