Changes in the incidence of theft were examined by comparing the volume of theft in various areas of Madras City in 1965, 1970, and 1975. Socioeconomic changes in sections of the city were also examined over the same period. More than the expected volume of theft occurred in 29 percent of the zones of the city over 1965-75 and 1970-75. These areas have shown a continuous increase in theft. These areas are either affluent residential communities or transport, industrial, and commercial areas. The economic assets of these areas provide attractive opportunities for thieves. The zones having more than the expected change in the incidence of theft in 1965-75 and less than expected change in 1970-75 showed a high incidence of theft at the beginning of the study period, with a gradual tapering off of theft in 1970-75. These are areas that had high-income groups at the beginning of the period but which saw the migration of these groups to other areas, leaving behind the low-income group. Sixty-two percent of the zones of the city had less than the expected change in the incidence of theft over the entire period. These areas of constant decline in theft are old, congested residential areas occupied mostly by low-income families, providing unattractive targets for thieves throughout the study period. These findings suggest that the police should plan the deployment of resources according to the indicated patterns of socioeconomic change in the city. Tabular data and three references are provided.