Influence of Incident Location on Reporting of Property Crime to the Police by Victims in Gilgil Ward, Nakuru County, Kenya

The increase in property crimes is a significant issue impacting national security and economic growth, often linked to the reluctance of victims to report crimes. In Gilgil Ward, Nakuru County, Kenya, property crimes are the most prevalent, yet they constitute a low percentage of the crimes reported to the police. The reasons for this discrepancy are unclear, particularly regarding the influence of the crime location on the victims' decision to report. This study aimed to examine how the location of a crime influences the reporting of property crimes to the police by victims in Gilgil Ward. A mixed-method research design was adopted, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected through questionnaires and interview schedules from a sample of 96 property crime victims using stratified random sampling, purposive sampling, and snowball sampling techniques. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, including frequency distribution tables and percentages. The study found that the incident location had varying effects on different property crimes. While proximity to the police station did not significantly influence most respondents' decisions to report property crimes, certain crimes like theft of farming tools and building construction tools were reported to be influenced to a small extent by the incident location. The study recommends establishing more police posts and introducing mobile police units in Gilgil Ward to improve crime reporting rates. Additionally, community awareness campaigns on the importance of reporting crimes and increased police visibility are necessary to enhance the reporting of property crimes. Keywords: Crime Reporting, Incident Location, Property Crime DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/142-05 Publication date: September 30 th 2024