locations for forcible rapes and homicides. Sixty percent of reported burglaries occur in residences, as opposed to commercial establishments. Possibly 60 percent of all burglaries and noncommercial robberies occur at night, as do two-thirds of the aggravated assaults and one-half of the rapes. Many people are victimized more than once within a relatively short period of time.
It has long been assumed that a majority of murders are committed by someone known to the victim, and the same theory has been held in regard to aggravated assault and forcible rape. However, victimization surveys are indicating that the proportion of these crimes committed by strangers is increasing (Austern, 1987, p. 16). For example, in a 1960 survey, one-third of all aggravated assaults were committed by strangers. However, by 1970, nearly two-thirds of rapes and aggravated assaults were committed by strangers. Accurate information on relationships between burglars and their victims is difficult to obtain, because burglars are rarely confronted by the people they victimize.
There is an association between fluctuations in crime rates and changes in population, social values, and economic conditions. Among the societal conditions most frequently linked with the problem of crime are the proportion of young people in the population; metropolitan area population growth; population mobility; family stability; and income distribution (Austern, 1985, p. 19). For example, young males are more likely to commit and be victims of crime. Furthermore, it is estimated that by the year 2000, 85 percent of the population will be in urban areas--such as suburbs. Although there has been a historical association between inner city crime rates and population density, it is possible that suburbs, once their population increases in density, will experience criminogenic effects of steadily increasing urbanization (p. 17).
The impact of transiency in the populati...