The discussion focuses on four topics: ordinary crimes, fear of crime, abuse of the elderly, and fraud. Older people are found not to have higher victimization rates for such ordinary crimes as burglary, robbery, murder, rape, and theft. A theory to explain fear of crime is constructed around three components: personal vulnerability, environmental peril, and the victimization experience. The paradoxically high level of fear of crime among the aged is shown to be related to the interaction of personal vulnerability and environment. A typology is developed to clarify the different ways in which people cope with their fear of victimization. Types of frauds and behavior constituting abuse of the elderly are identified, and the limitations of existing research on these subjects are explained. Victims' interactions with the criminal justice system are outlined, with emphasis on the victim's importance to case outcomes and on restitution, compensation, and social service programs designed to help victims recover from the victimization experience. Recommendations for reducing crime and fear of crime among the elderly are presented, including actions at the individual neighborhood, and societal levels. Tables, an index, appendixes presenting additional data, and a list of 256 references are supplied.