Most hate crimes committed by strangers

Police-reported data indicate that hate crime incidents differ from crime in general in that they are more likely to be committed by strangers than by persons known to the victim. In 2006, police reported that three-quarters (77%) of all violent hate crime incidents had been committed by strangers, considerably higher than the proportion of strangers who commit other violent crimes (33%). Another 16% of violent hate crimes were committed by acquaintances of the victim, and 4% by business associates. Friends or family members were responsible for the remaining 3% of incidents.