NCJ Number
128999
Date Published
1989
Length
359 pages
Annotation
Questionnaire surveys of residents of Bochum, West Germany in 1975 and 1987 found that the crime rate continues to rise in the city's major crime areas and that, contrary to the official crime statistics, the "dark figure" for thefts has remained nearly unchanged at 16-17 percent since 1975.
Abstract
Information was gathered from a representative sample of 1,792 city residents. Findings showed that in both time periods the victim's decision to report a theft is based on financial considerations in that victims often refrain from reporting small losses while reporting larger losses to obtain insurance compensation. However, significantly more respondents were willing to report thefts in 1987. Although negative attitudes toward the police and negative prior experiences with reporting do not affect the willingness to report, middle-aged people are more likely to report crimes than are young or old victims. Tables, figures, footnotes, reference list, attached media reports, and related materials