HIGH LIFE : Young, Not Aged, Most Often Are Crime Victims

Contrary to popular belief, young people, not the elderly, are most often victims of crime, according to the U.S. Justice Department as reported by the Youth News Service.

Out of 1,000 people surveyed, 371 victims of household crime--which included burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft--were in the 12 through 24 age category and 103 were 65 and older.

In a comparison with people ages 65 and older, the Bureau of Justice statistics found those under 25 are robbed four times more often and assaulted 17 times more frequently.

In the 12 to 24 age group, there were 68 victims of violent crimes per 1,000 people; in the 65 and older group, there were 6 per 1,000.

There were also more personal thefts in the 12 to 24 age group than in the 65 and older group; the younger group had 127 victims per 1,000 and the older group 22.

Nadia Davis, a 17-year-old junior at Villa Park High School, was one of eight runners-up for the national title of 1988 High School Cover Girl.

Davis, who plans a career in social work, spent this week in New York competing in the 27th annual contest, co-sponsored by YM Magazine and Cover Girl Make-Up. All nine contestants were photographed for the November issue of YM. The winner, Aimee Caponetto, 15, of Kansas City, Mo., will appear on the cover of YM and receive a $5,000 modeling contract from Cover Girl.

The following is a list of summer job-hunting tips from Manpower Inc., which provides temporary employment to more than 700,000 people annually.

-- Be persistent: Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t lined up a summer job yet. Many firms haven’t completed their hiring.

-- Explore all potential job sources: Newspaper ads are a good source of job leads, but not the only source. Ask relatives, teachers and friends; call major firms and inquire about openings; contact temporary help services; check with local government job services.

-- Contact former employers: Firms like to bring back former workers who understand how their business operates, minimizing training requirements.

-- Understand your marketable skills: Students often underestimate their skills. Consider your educational assets such as computer literacy, foreign languages, keyboard, research and communication experience.

-- Look for learning opportunities: Present yourself as someone eager to learn; you may land a job where you can develop skills.

-- Have proper legal identification: This year, you must have a passport, Social Security card or driver’s license with a photo on it to prove citizenship under the Immigration Law.

-- Make commitments and keep them: Employers want assurances that you will hang in for the duration of a summer job, not disappear after a month.

Manpower Inc. is at 100 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 330, Anaheim. The phone number is (714) 774-8000.

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

--Will Rogers (1879-1935)