Early Idaho Risers Most At Risk For Carjackings, Data Finds

A large number of Idaho residents begin and end their workdays while it's still dark outside. Criminals look for certain opportunities to make off with automobiles, and there's one thing we do almost every morning during the winter months that plays right into their scheme.

Have you ever been the victim of a carjacking or had a vehicle stolen from your property? According to joint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Tulane University, over 800,000 carjackings and car thefts (combined) occur each year in the United States.

Thieves are more likely to act when fewer witnesses are present. It's for this reason that many choose to target victims in the early morning hours before the sun rises.

"Warm-Up Thefts" Is The Name Given To The Act Of Stealing Vehicles Or Committing Assaults While Car Owners Are Letting Engines Warm In The Winter Months

Those of us in Idaho who clock in on the job by 5 A.M. are at a higher risk than others for these types of crimes, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

READ MORE: Idaho Residents Are Floored By The Crime Stats Released By The Twin Falls Police

Engine noise and headlights can be a signal to criminals in the early morning hours when it would be otherwise quiet in neighborhoods. Parking vehicles as close as possible to exterior security cameras around the home or office can help deter would-be thieves and jackers.

Be careful of your surroundings when warming up vehicles in the morning to melt away ice.