The primary source for data is the Crime in the United States reports published annually by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which contains information on seven major crimes -- murder, forcible rape, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, larceny and motor vehicle theft. Results from analysis of crime patterns and trends indicate that Virginia's highest crime rates occur in the cities. The rural areas, particularly in the western half of the State, have the lowest crime rates. These patterns coincide with national studies that higher crime rates are usually associated with heavily urbanized areas. The study also suggests that Virginia's overall crime rate is lower than the rates of several of its neighboring states, as well as the national rate. Both Virginia's violent and property crime rates are substantially lower than those in many areas. An analysis of trends with regard to the overall crime rate has closely followed rises and declines in the national crime rates while remaining substantially lower. Since 1981 Virginia's crime rate has had a greater rate of decline than the neighboring six-State average and national rate. Tabular data are provided.