THIS STUDY COVERS 'ORDINARY' CRIMES AGAINST BUSINESS, SUCH AS BURGLARY, ROBBERY, VANDALISM, SHOP-LIFTING, EMPLOYEE THEFT, BAD CHECKS, CREDIT CARD FRAUD, AND ARSON. ORGANIZED CRIME AND EXTRAORDINARY CRIMES HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED. BECAUSE OF THE SPARSENESS OF DATA AVAILABLE, IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MANY GAPS EXIST. THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE REPORT IS CONSIDERED TO BE ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE. FROM THE DATA AVAILABLE, IT IS POINTED OUT THAT CRIMES AGAINST BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO RISE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WITH SMALL BUSINESSES SUFFERING MORE THAN LARGER FIRMS. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMBATING THIS INCREASE ARE AS FOLLOWS: ADOPT PROFESSIONAL APPROACHES TO PROPERTY PROTECTION; COOPERATE WITH INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION CRIME REDUCTION EFFORTS; PROSECUTE THIEVES; SUPPORT THE DATA COLLECTING EFFORTS OF PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS; PROMOTE LOCAL ANTI-CRIME PROGRAMS; AND DO NOT BUY MERCHANDISE OFFERED AT LOW PRICES BY UNKNOWN VENDORS. SEE ALSO NCJ 32034....RCB