I don't mean this personally at all, but for my money statistics are great
for conversation over tea. This thread was started by someone who was the
victim  of property crime at least twice. The stats. don't eliminate that. And they
 don't make his fears or anyone elses "irrational". They don't make concern
irrational either.

I think reality should trump statistics. The opposite is silly:
 The doctor says, "I'm sorry ma'am, your husband died of heart failure  which
is unusual for a man of 25. In fact if you look at the statistics he's  doing
fine."

Greiving in this case might not be irrational regardless of the  stats.

(Also I'm guilty of not reporting property crimes because the downside is  it
will take my time and the upside is, well, nothing. I've filed a few times,
but really it seems silly. And I'll be I'm not alone. And that's gonna skew
the  statistics.)

Best,
Jeff
Purveyor of Reality
83.5 Westy
LA,CA

In a message dated 8/6/2005 9:25:59 AM Pacific Standard Time,
onanov@GMAIL.COM writes:

Americans have irrational fears of things that aren't back up  by
statistics--even in Iowa City kids aren't much allowed to even walk  to
school--this in the day when statistically, across the country,  crime
rates are actually down from the 1960s and 70s.  Property crimes  may
be up--but our physical selves are actually  safer.