Betty Gonzalez has lived in her north Waco home for more than 30 years. Times have changed a lot she says. The bars she hides behind are proof of that.

"For awhile it was tough, there was a shooting every night." said Gonzalez.

She says one of those bullets even hit her house several years ago.

"In the morning when I got up, I knew that bullet hit my house, I still got that piece of brick, I saved it," she said.

Michael Issa owns a mini mart just around the corner. His take on crime is a little bit different.

" I've been here 23 years and I've never seen a robbery of burglary or whatever," said Issa.

But regardless, Waco is listed as the 4th most crime ridden city in the country, according to a new study. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina comes in at number one. Laredo is number three. The study which compiles data from the national crime index rate for 2002 concludes violent crime is less of a concern in Waco that property crime.

Sean Dayton can attest to that. He owns a motor company and detail shop on Waco's Franklin Avenue, where a number of burglaries have been reported by business owners lately.

"About a month ago, I got broken in to, they took two pressure washers and all my tools," said Dayton.

From January through August of 2002, Waco police reported more than 1,800 thefts. The number is down for the same period this year.

Vehicle thefts are down too and so are robberies. But residential burglaries are up and so is the the homicide rate.

Waco Police officials say it's hard to tell just what may be contributing to the numbers.

"The figures we're seeing right now, they way they fluctuate, this is pretty normal," said Waco Police Spokesperson, Steve Anderson.

Waco police just received a boost in funding from the City Council to hire 11 new police officers, but officials say it's a good idea to keep your eyes open, too.

" We just ask that people be aware of their surroundings , so you're not a victim of an assault or a robbery, same goes for your home. Lock your doors, close your shades and make sure your items are put up," said Anderson.

It's advice Sean Dayton took one step further.

" I've taken it into my own hands and put in a security system and cameras. We can sit back and gripe at police but if we don't do something ourselves we can't help fight the crime," Dayton said.