THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF LOSS WHICH SMALL BUSINESSES PRESENTLY SUFFER DUE TO CRIME IS ASSESSED, AND DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE NATURE OF THE FOUR CRIMES THAT MOST OFTEN PLAGUE SMALL BUSINESSES--ROBBERY, BURGLARY, SHOPLIFTING, AND INTERNAL THREAT--ARE PRESENTED. THIS HELPS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS EVALUATE THEIR OWN VULNERABILITY TO CRIME. THE OPERATING METHODS OF THE FOUR TYPES OF CRIMINALS ARE DISCUSSED AND A GUIDE FOR ASSESSING VULNERABILITY IS INCLUDED. THE CRIMINAL'S POINT OF VIEW IS USED IN DISCUSSING WEAKNESSES IN INSTALLATION AND PROCEDURES. A SECTION OF THE HANDBOOK IS DESIGNED TO AID IN INTERPRETING FINDINGS AND PRESENTS THE RANGE OF SECURITY TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. A CATALOG OF AVAILABLE, LOW-COST SECURITY TECHNIQUES IS PROVIDED. COVERED ARE PROPERTY LINE PROTECTION, ENTRY PROTECTION, SPACE PROTECTION, POINT PROTECTION, AND ALARMS. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THE HANDBOOK PRECEDE THE BODY OF THE TEXT AND APPENDIXES CONTAIN A SHOPLIFTING GUIDE FOR RETAILERS, SECURITY ORDINANCES FOR OAKLAND, CALIF., A LISTING OF SECURITY CONSULTANTS, AND A DICTIONARY OF ANTI-INTRUSION DEVICES FOR ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS. A FEDERAL CRIME INSURANCE APPLICATION FORM IS ALSO INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)