
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, September 6, 1993                   TAG: 9309060055
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: HOLIDAY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

VIOLENT, PROPERTY CRIMES DOWN A BIT, SURVEY SAYS

The number of U.S. households experiencing violent or property crimes fell to less than one in four last year, the Justice Department reported Sunday, but FBI Director Louis J. Freeh said that Americans should take little comfort in the decline.

The 23 percent victimization rate for 1992 was down from 24 percent in 1991 and 32 percent in 1975, the first year the survey was taken, the Justice Department found in its latest survey.

"Any reduction in crime that can be measured is obviously a positive result," Freeh said in an interview. "But the percentages we're talking about . . . should not give any of us the comfort level that we deserve and should strive for. - Los Angeles Times

by CNB