Incidents of vandalism were among those to have risen

A survey of people's experience of crime found that there was a 30% increase on 1999 figures.

The Scottish Crime Survey found a 68% rise in vandalism between 1999 and 2002, a 62% increase in bicycle theft and an 81% increase in household theft.

The survey also found only a quarter of crimes against homes and people were recorded by police in 2002.

Researchers asked questions on six areas of crime which could be compared to police figures - vandalism, housebreaking, vehicle theft, bicycle theft, assault and robbery.

If we can take people off drugs then we take away the reason for the crime Cathy Jamieson Justice Minister

Of those, 49% were reported to police, with officers in turn recording 49%, meaning only 24% of crimes were recorded by police.

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said the rise in vandalism meant the Scottish Executive was right to tackle anti-social behaviour.

"We listened to real people's views and, with the new Anti-Social Behaviour Act, we have now given more powers to local authorities and the police to deal with it," she said.

Ms Jamieson put the continuing problem of opportunistic theft down to drug addicts "desperate for their next fix".

"One person's TV or bike becomes another person's currency for drink or drugs," she said.

The best way to tackle these types of crimes is for higher visibility policing on our streets Kenny MacAskill SNP justice spokesman

"If we can take people off drugs then we take away the reason for the crime."

Scottish National Party justice spokesman Kenny MacAskill said the figures showed that more bobbies were needed on the beat.

"Crimes against households and individuals are estimated to be four times higher than the recorded level, which will make worrying reading for the public," he said.

"The best way to tackle these types of crimes is for higher visibility policing on our streets."

Scottish Conservative justice spokeswoman Annabel Goldie said: "I am extremely worried that such a small proportion of crime is reported to the police.

Zero tolerance

"I am sure that this is because many Scots have lost faith in our soft criminal justice system, or know that the police are too overstretched to be able to deal with the scourge of crime in our country.

"I sympathise with people who feel that frustration but we must change this culture of silence so that we can deal with crime more effectively, and we need to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to all crime."

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) said it had always been aware of a gap between actual crime and the recorded figures.

At face value

The organisation's secretary, Assistant Chief Constable John Corrigan, said a decision was taken to change to a national crime recording standard from April this year.

"Prior to this date a crime was recorded if evidence to substantiate the allegation was available, but now the report is taken at face value," he said.