TV Reviews : Overly Dramatic ‘Victim No More’ Still Informs

“Victim No More,” an hourlong special airing on KCAL-TV Channel 9 tonight at 9 and (repeating Saturday at 9 p.m.), is a graphic seminar in violent crime--and how to avoid being a victim of same.

An increasingly rare species--the local television documentary--”Victim” is overly dramatic but valuable.

Capably hosted by “Prime 9 News” anchor Pat Harvey, “Victim” looks at several areas of violence, including car-jacking, stalking, home invasion, street crimes and rape. The language is graphic, as are some of the images.

The emphasis is on protection--on how to avoid being an easy mark, a soft target. The theme of “be prepared” is hammered home again and again, by Harvey and police and victims. The program illustrates and then lists police recommendations on how to avoid crime situations and what to do when confronted by criminal activity.

If you think it can’t happen to you, think again. Just a few of the show’s statistics put the lie to that delusion: In Los Angeles last year, 32,000 people were robbed, 40,000 were assaulted. And those are the ones that were reported.

“Victim No More” makes some mistakes--writer-producer Lisa Brown has loaded it with melodramatic touches, irritating music and staged scenes that detract from its message--but it is a worthwhile public-service effort. Consider it a primer in self-defense. And hey--let’s be careful out there.