AbstractThis study attempts to shed light on the types of crime committed by drug addicts and the possible changes in criminal behavior over time. The study revealed that arrests for crimes against the person are becoming more prominent among addicts although acquisition of property appeared to be the prime motive in these offenses Over the four‐year period analyzed, arrests for crimes against property and drug offenses remained the more numerically important categories even though arrests for crimes against the person increased. It was also found that, for each type of offense, more persons were arrested after than before they initiated thew drug abuse pattern