This advance report highlights the findings of surveys taken in Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia as part of the National Crime Panel, a new instrument for measuring levels of crime both nationwide and in selected large cities. Conducted for the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the panel, relying on scientific sampling procedures, gauges the extent to which individuals age 12 and over, households, and commercial establishments have been victimized by certain types of crimes. It examines the characteristics of victims and, where possible, explores such facets of victimization as the relationship between victim and offender, the time and place of occurrence, the injury or loss suffered, and whether or not the event was reported to the police. Carried out in the first quarter of 1973, the surveys covered victimizations that occurred during the previous 12 months. In each city, about 10,000 households (some 22,000 persons) and approximately 2,000 commercial establishments comprised the sample. The information presented in this report reflects only those victimizations incurred by the residents and commercial firms of each city, even though certain incidents may have taken place outside the city. Victimizations of nonresidents, such as suburban commuters and visitors, did not fall within the scope of the surveys. All data from the survey are estimates. (Author/JM)