Boy into Criminal

The boy of 17 is now the No. 1 criminal of the U.S., for the first time in the records of FBI. While his older brothers are busy at war, he committed 27.7% more crimes last year.

FBI, analyzing its way through the 1,381,681 major crimes committed in the U.S. in 1943, had even sadder news about girl criminals. The number of under-21 girls arrested leaped 130.4% over 1941. Biggest jump was in the "V-girl" area of "amateur" prostitution and saloon-going, which FBI politely calls "offenses against public decency." But there was also a 30% increase in girl burglaries.

Other FBI findings:

> The U.S. had 1,052 fewer murders than in 1942. Robberies were down, too, but the haul per holdup was higher.

> Biggest increases: auto theft (up 11.4%); rape (up 9.7%).

> The war has forced house prowlers to change their hours. There are 10% fewer early-evening burglaries, because gasoline-less citizens stay home more. Burglaries were up 7% in daytime, when women workers are away from home.

> Robbers follow the market: filling-station holdups, longtime easy pickings, now declined 72%.

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