THE AUTHORS NOTE THAT PROGRESS IN DEALING SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE DRAMATIC PROBLEM OF CRIME AGAINST THE AGED HAS GENERALLY BEEN SLOW AND SPORADIC. DIFFICULTIES HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED IN DEFINING THE EXTENT OF THE CRIME PROBLEM FOR THE ELDERLY DUE TO INADEQUATE STATISTICS AND VICTIM UNDERREPORTING. HOWEVER, A LEAA VICTIMIZATION STUDY SHOWED THAT THE RATE OF PERSONAL LARCENY WITH CONTACT (INCLUDING PURSE SNATCHING) WAS HIGHER FOR VICTIMS OVER 50 IN 10 OF THE 13 CITIES STUDIES. SUCH SPECIFIC PROBLEMS OF THE ELDERLY AS INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CRIME, RISKS OF PHYSICAL INJURY FROM CRIME, AND THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT OF CRIME IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL LOSS AND FEAR OF CRIME ARE OUTLINED. THE AUTHORS DISCUSS THE NEED FOR GREATER LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVITY TO THE CRIME-RELATED PROBLEMS OF OLDER AMERICANS. VARIOUS PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN AIDING THE ELDERLY ARE NOTED. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT IT SHOULD BECOME A MATTER OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC POLICY MAKERS AT ALL LEVELS TO ENCOURAGE PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THE AGING'S ONUS OF CRIME. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)