Reporting behavior of bicycle theft victims: a test of Black’s theory of law

Based on Black’s theory of law, scholars have examined crime-reporting behavior in many countries and regions. To extend the scope of the theory, this study uses data from the 1992 United Nations International Crime Victimization Survey in Beijing and applies Black’s theory of law to examine the behavior of crime reporting of bicycle theft victims. The results suggest that age is positively correlated with reporting behavior, and victimization occurring in a public setting is less likely to be reported. Other variables have no statistically significant impact on crime reporting. Moreover, the control variable (seriousness of the crime) is proportional to reporting behavior. Implications of the study and directions for future research are discussed.