Those persons age 65 or older who do protect themselves use nonphysical action, including arguing or reasoning with the offender, screaming, or running away. Elderly victims of robbery and personal theft are more likely than younger victims to report those crimes to the police Seven out of ten elderly victims and just over 5 out of 10 victims under age 65 report a robbery or attempted robbery to the police. No measurable difference, however, distinguishes older from younger victims in reporting aggravated assault or household crimes to the police. Elderly women, however, have higher rates of personal larceny with contact such as purse snatching. The elderly age 65 to 74 have higher rates of victimization than those age 75 or older.
Elderly blacks are more likely than elderly whites to be crime victims.
However, rates of personal larceny that did not involve contact between the victim and offender were greater for whites. The elderly with the lowest incomes experience higher violence rates than those elderly with higher family incomes. Those elderly with the highest family income have the highest rates of personal theft or household crime. Elderly persons who are either separated or divorced, from among all marital statuses, have the highest rates of victimization for all types of crime. Elderly residents in cities have the highest rates of victimization for all types of crime, compared to suburban or rural elderly.