CRIME COSTS THE TYPICAL AMERICAN FAMILY OF FOUR $3,300 A YEAR, EVEN IF FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE NEVER BEEN VICTIMS THEMSELVES. A CAR THEFT OCCURS EVERY 32 SECONDS, A HOMICIDE EVERY 26 MINUTES. COSTS AMOUNT OF $992 MILLION A YEAR FOR LARCENY AND $40 BILLION A YEAR FOR WHITE COLLAR CRIME. TO COMBAT THESE COSTS AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL COST IN THE CLIMATE OF FEAR PRODUCED BY THE RISING CRIME RATE, THE INDIVIDUAL MUST LEARN TO LIVE DEFENSIVELY. FOR EXAMPLE, PERSONS SHOULD PARK ONLY IN WELL-LIT AREAS, LOCKING CAR DOORS AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHILE IN THE CAR; INVEST IN DEAD-BOLT LOCKS, WHICH ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO BREAK, AND SAFETY CHAINS FOR ADDED HOME PROTECTION; USE A PEEK-HOLE IN THE DOOR; AND KEEP ALL EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR THE SHERIFF, AMBULANCE, OR DOCTOR HANDY. COMMUNITIES CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN PREVENTING CRIME BY INSTITUTING THE 'NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH,' WHICH MAY MEAN INFORMING NEIGHBORS OF VACATION DATES, NOTIFYING THE NEWSPAPER DELIVERER, THE MAILMAN, OR THE MILKMAN OF SUCH DAYS, AND WATCHING OUT FOR THE HOMES OF NEIGHBORS WHEN THEY ARE GONE. WATCHDOG COMMITTEES ON LOCAL JUDGES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT MAY BE HELPFUL, BUT CITIZENS MUST LEARN TO SHOULDER SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY BY LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND BY TAKING ON JURY DUTY. AN AWARE CITIZENRY AND WELL-THOUGHT-OUT SECURITY TECHNIQUES CAN CAN HELP SUBSTANTIALLY IN CUTTING THE HIGH COST OF CRIME. (MHP)