Unequal crime reporting: trust in the police and racial disparities in reporting theft and robbery in Brazil

Purpose This study aims to examine how trust in the police shapes reporting decisions for theft and robbery and whether this relationship varies by offense type, race and crime characteristics in a Global South context. Design/methodology/approach Using nationally representative survey data on victims of theft and robbery in Brazil, crime reporting is conceptualized as a post-victimization decision under uncertainty. Separate probit models are estimated for theft (N = 3,417) and robbery (N = 677). Results are presented as average marginal effects, controlling for prior victimization, socioeconomic characteristics and crime attributes, including incidents involving vehicles, documents or mobile phones. Findings Trust in the police is positively associated with reporting for both types of offenses, but the magnitude differs substantially. The association is considerably stronger for robbery than for theft and is amplified in incidents involving higher material or administrative stakes. Non-white victims are consistently less likely to report, even after accounting for trust and socioeconomic differences, suggesting that racial disparities in engagement with the criminal justice system extend beyond attitudinal factors. Originality/value By distinguishing between theft and robbery and incorporating crime-specific attributes, the study refines existing debates on trust and reporting behavior. Focusing on Brazil contributes evidence from the Global South to a literature largely centered on the Global North and highlights how institutional trust, structural inequality and instrumental incentives jointly shape crime reporting.