More Bonnie Parkers

Though American women are much less confined to the home these days, liberation does not always lead to useful pursuits. FBI statistics released last week indicate a record 18% jump in crimes in 1974, and women were involved in more of them than ever before. In the past 15 years, robberies committed by women have risen 306%, larcenies (mainly shoplifting) 404%, frauds and embezzlements 332%, and forgeries and counterfeitings 167%.

Women are committing mostly petty offenses -only one in six homicides is attributed to a woman -but criminologists expect them to work their way up (or down) the ladder. Sociologist Francis lanni of Columbia University believes this trend is the "criminal analogue of the women's liberation movement. As in business, politics and education, there will be equal opportunities in crime. You can't have Bella Abzugs without Bonnie Parkers."

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