Burglaries and vandalism cause untold damage and require repair and replacement. Mary and John Travis' home and furniture was so destroyed by the vandalism that accompanied their burglary that they could not afford to clean or repair it. They were forced to move from the house in which they had lived for thirty-five years. They ended up living a lonely life in an apartment far from their friends and their neighbors. All names of victims mentioned in this section have been changed to preserve confidentiality.
Crime is an extraordinary trauma.
Most victims suffer some discomfort and stress as a result of even the smallest kind of crime. Some have suggested that 20 percent of all victims seem to exhibit severe stress reactions. And 5 percent of all victims are likely to go into emotional crisis. Elderly victims are among those types of victims who are viewed as high crisis risks following crime. The elderly victim may have already been trying to deal with a growing sense of dependence and helplessness.